Omar: I am sure that all kinds of devastating
conclusions
about Balkan countries, Slavic cultures etc. could be
drawn from this.
Eric: Thanks for explaining what you meant about
the spelling. As for conclusions, I'll pass on them.
One of my friends is a doctor from Romania. She
was explaining the Romanian "vampire" tradition to
me, how the Eastern Orthodox clerics are involved
in special ceremonies for those who are suspected
of being vampires. People suspected of being
vampires are never troubled while they are alive.
When they die, however, there are all kinds of
special ceremonies to prevent their rising from
the dead. Apparently two signs that someone is a
vampire are exceptionally good health and high
intelligence.
I don't see what the survival-value of such
folklore (fearing the healthy and the intelligent)
could be.
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