in #CASE you missed it… Today is World Dracula Day
May 26th is World Dracula Day! World Dracula Day commemorates the publication of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” on May 26, 1897 – and this year marks its 120th anniversary.
Of course, the concept of vampirism dates back thousands of years. The ancient Greeks, Hebrews, Egyptians and Babylonians all had legends telling hair-raising tales of demon-like undead creatures that lived off of the blood of the living. However, the most iconic vampire of all time, Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula,’ was based on a real historical figure. For those who don’t know, Romania’s Prince Vlad III of Wallachia was the real-life inspiration behind Stoker’s gothic horror classic.
Known as ‘Vlad the Impaler,’ the real guy wasn’t as romantic as the one we’ve seen in movies. Vlad earned his nickname for the many ways he tortured his opponents as well as people who betrayed him when they were captured…and yes, impaling was his favorite mode of execution. His literal thirst for blood is what embodies the character we know so well.