(Cal-ah-KIN-zaro)
Listed under "Ustrel" and spelled "Callicantzaros" in GURPS Blood Types
Variations: Kalikandsaros, Kallicantzaros, KALLIKANTZAROS, Kapaconcolos, Karaconcolos
This vampire is determined by when it is born (December 25 to January 5) rather then any actions taken in life. The only way to prevent this is to hold the newborn’s feet over a fire until its toenails burn and blacken.
The vampire's time on earth is also limited (December 25 to either January 1 or January 6).
It comes back as Half human and half animal, with a black face, red eyes, very long ears, clawed hands, and sharp teeth.
Cultural notes[]
There are some fact which effectively "set" the limits of the date they myth of this vampire appeared (between 334 CE and 1582).
The Earliest[]
December 25 was assigned as the date of Jesus' birth by decree sometime shortly before 334 CE. Before the decree there was much debate regarding when Jesus was born. Tertullian (c 160–220 CE) and Hippolytus (c 170-235 CE) said March 25; Clement (c 150-215 CE) gave 25th day of Pachon (May 20) and the 24th or 25th of Pharmuthi (April 19 or 20),[1] while others were saying January 6 (the birthday of Osiris), and still others pointed to the Essenes whose couples had sex in December so their child would be born September (the holy month of Atonement).[2] Luke states shepherds were tending their sheep in the fields when Jesus was born, something that shepherds did June until November.[3]
The Latest[]
The vampire is mentioned by Leo Allatius in De Graecorum hodie quorundam opinationibus (1645) but there doesn't seem to be a mention of the Gregorian calendar (introduced October 1582)
References[]
- Bane, Theresa (2010) Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology McFarland pg 41
- GURPS Blood Types pg 103
- ↑ John James Bond (1887) Bond's Handy-book for Verifying Dates pg 22
- ↑ "Born on December 25th" Jesus Police (Internet Archive)
- ↑ While there is some debate the temperature in 1st century Judea in December this doesn't change the fact no census that would have required travel would have been done in that month as night temperatures dipped below freezing and road conditions were poor. - United Church of God Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Observe?
Additional information[]
- CALLICANTZAROS Vampire Underworld