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Vampires have existed in some form in folklore for many centuries.
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One vampire myth suggests that vampires are compelled to count if they find seeds or holes in a net, so these items can be used to deter a vampire from entering a dwelling if placed outside a door or window. The Muppets' character Count von Count is based on this vampire myth.
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Count Dracula is considered to be one of the most famous vampires of all time. Count Dracula's character was inspired by Vlad the Impaler, a ruler of Wallachia in the 1400s who became known for his cruelty.
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In Romania Vlad the Impaler is considered to be a hero who saved them from the Ottoman Empire.
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Bram Stoker's Dracula is considered to be the most famous vampire story, which became the basis for many movies in the 20th century.
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Some stories make it possible for vampires to turn into bats, while others suggest they can become wolves.
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Throughout history burial rituals have existed to stop the dead from rising again. Such rituals can include placing specific objects over a grave or staking a vampire through the heart with a wooden stake.
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Some folklore suggests that it is possible to deter a vampire by using garlic for defense, while other folklore suggests that the sign of the cross will deter a vampire.
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Other items believed to be able to stop a vampire include hawthorn branches, holy water, fire, bell's, rooster's crow, peppermint, and mirrors.
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Some believe that carrying salt can stop a vampire. All you have to do is drop the salt on the ground and the vampire must stop and count each grain.
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Modern vampires depicted in film are often attractive, very old, intelligent, and preferring to sleep in a coffin or hanging upside down like a bat.
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Vampire-like animals exist in reality. Vampire bats, leeches, and lampreys suck blood from a host animal without killing it.
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More than 1,000 vampire novels have been published, the majority within the last 25 years.
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There have been more than 300 movies made about vampires. More than 100 of these films featured Dracula as the main vampire character.
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Some films featuring a vampire include Interview with the Vampire, Van Helsing, and Bram Stoker's Dracula. The Twilight Saga is a highly successful series of films about vampires.
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