The concept of the dybbuk first entered into Judaism by means of the mysticism that was practiced in the eighth century. Jews were forbidden to practice the art of mysticism for fear that it could weaken one’s faith. However, by the twelfth century mysticism was an accepted part of the Kabbalah, and by the sixteenth century, mysticism was completely embraced.
The dybbuk (“cleaving”), an evil and restless vampiric spirit, was said by some sources to be one of the children born of LILITH; others say that it is created through an act of sorcery. Earliest beliefs in the dybbuk claimed that it was a demon, but later that origin was changed to be the soul of a person attempting to escape final justice. Its description remained the same, that of a hairy, unclean, goatlike demon (see HAIR).
For the dybbuk to survive, it must gain entry into a human body. It may allow itself to be breathed in through incense or it may embed itself in a piece of food about to be eaten, but typforce if necessary through the nostril, although any orifice will suffice. Once it has gained access, the dybbuk will possess the person and begin to feed off the person’s life- force, taking up residence in one of the pinky fingers or one of the toes (see ENERGY VAMPIRE).
Dún Dreach-Fhoula (DO-in DROC-OLA)
Variations: Dune Droc-Ola (“Castle of the Blood Visage”)
In a place called Magillycuddy Reeks in Kerry County, Ireland, stands a castle named Du’n Dreach-Fhoula (“the place of tainted blood”). Originally it was intended to be a fortress to stand guard over a mountain pass, but the area was seldom used for travel as it was rumored to be inhabited by blood- drinking fay.
It is argued by some that this castle’s name was the inspiration for the name of BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA rather than the Wallachian prince, Vlad Dracul III. Despite the fact that Stoker’s own journals say otherwise, the debate continues. The basis for this argument is that Stoker had never traveled to Eastern Europe and relied entirely on the secondhand descriptions of travelers who had been to those areas for descriptions he would need for his novel. Coincidentally, during the time that Stoker would have been writing Dracula, Geoffrey Keating’s History of Ireland was on display in the National Museum in Dublin. It was filled with tales and descriptions of the undead (see UNDEATH). Additionally, it is possible that Stoker could have also read a then-popular novel about an ancient Irish chieftain named ABHARTACH that was written by Patric W. Joyce in 1880. It has been theorized that Stoker may have taken the name of Du’n Dreach- Fhoula, the historical blood-drinking chieftain ABHARTACH, and the tales of the undead gathered from Keating’s book, melded them all together, and created the character of Dracula we all know today.
Source: Briggs, Encyclopedia of Fairies; MacKillop, Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, 180; Rose, Giants, Monsters and Dragons, 86
Dullahan (DAH-hool)
Variations: Dullaghan, Far Dorocha, Gan Ceann, Headless Horseman
The Headless Horseman was popularized in 1820 by Washington Irving’s American retelling of the German folklore short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”.
No such being existed in Irish lore or folktales until after the potato famine started in 1845. Suddenly, people started to say that on occasion the BANSHEE was being accompanied by a headless man riding upon a horse, particularly at midnight on Feast Days. The man was carrying his head, which was smiling ear to ear and was the color and texture of moldy cheese. The head was sometimes in hand or tied to the saddle. Even the horse was said to be headless by some. There were also claims that the headless man drove a coach made of human thigh bones and was pulled by six black horses with skull heads, their eyes lit by candles in their sockets (This version is akin to the DEATH COACH). Whether by coach or on horseback, the dullahan races down roads, spreading disease as it travels and causing entire households to suddenly fall ill. The horseman uses a bullwhip to lash out the eyes of anyone on the roadside who sees him, as he is cursed with poor eyesight himself. The lucky victims only get covered with a bucket of blood he throws at them as he charges by. The dullahan is exceedingly greedy and any momentary offering thrown to it will be accepted.
Source: Curran, Vampires, 57; Indian Antiquary, 300; Leatherdale, Dracula: The Novel and the Legend, 79
In Spain, there is a type of vampiric fay called a duendes that looks like a middle-aged woman, small and slight of build, wearing GREEN robes. Occasionally it will appear as a young girl on the brink of womanhood wearing a showy suit of red and GREEN topped off with a straw hat. In either case, it will have fingers made of icicles.
A seductress and corruptor of men, the duendes will use its persuasive powers to overcome and dissuade all concerns its victim may have about enjoying a quick indiscretion with it. It takes a certain sadistic delight in making a man break his wedding vows or a vow or chastity, but the highest achievement it can obtain is to successfully seduce a man while in its childlike form. Duendes are angry at mankind because they so desperately wish to be human themselves, but fortunately, there is only a handful left.
Source: Jones, On the Nightmare, 82; Kanellos, Handbook of Hispanic Cultures, 235; Roth, American Elves, 174
The dschuma is a VAMPIRIC WITCH spirit from Romanian lore. Looking like either a young virgin or an old hag, it is covered with cholera that it spreads wherever it goes. At night, it can be heard wailing in pain, as the disease is worse then. The dschuma cannot be destroyed, but it can be made to leave an area. Seven old women must spin, weave, and sew a scarlet shirt all in one night, without speaking, and then leave it in the woods for the dschuma to find. The vampire has a particular vulnerability to the cold and very often has no clothes of its own. As soon as it finds the shirt, the dschuma will put it on and leave the region, perhaps as a token of appreciation. If seven old women are not available, seven maidens can be used in their place. However, the dschuma will take its time when it decides to leave.
Source: Gerard, The Land Beyond the Forest, 202; Guiley, The Complete Vampire Companion, 81; The Nineteenth Century, 140
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