Garlic Scares Away Halloween Vampires

Dracula, Prince of Vampires, will surely be on the prowl Halloween, deterred only by garlic, sunlight, and crucifixes.

Garlic, specifically the chemical compound allicin inside garlic cloves, is a powerful antibiotic. Some European belief around vampires stated that they were created by a disease of the blood, so a powerful antibiotic would “kill” a vampire

In southern Slavic regions and elsewhere in Europe, Allium sativum was believed not only to protect from vampires, but also from witches, warlocks, demons and werewolves. However, garlic is traditionally more of a repellent than an actual method of killing vampire. “In recent vampire literature and films garlic is considered to be protective against vampire attacks and evil in general,” noted Roy Vickery. So much for the fiction of wooden stake driven through the heart.

Or will Dracula really be repelled by fumes of Allium sativum? Apologies to ruin a good story, but Dracula’s hatred of garlic originated with Bram Stoker’s gothic novel of the same name. Since its first publication in 1897 it has never been out of publication but it made the author little money or fame.

“Shallots are for babies; onion are for men; garlic is for heroes” claims the anonymous adviser. Thus, for the Prince of Darkness, it was not love at first bite. In fact, American journalist and humourist Calvin Trillin says, “Following the Romanian tradition, garlic is used in excess to keep the vampires away.”

Garlic has long been credited as a repellent for evil spirits. A necklace of garlic cloves and a silver crucifix are advised if venturing into vampire territory. Vampires hate silver. It is pure, effective against impure forces of evil such as vampires and werewolves. Silver is why vampires such as the Count cast no reflection. Mirror were first made of silver.. Amongst other Christian sources feared by vampires are holy water. (How to make holy water? Boil the hell out of it).

You can forget too about those vampire killing kits. A modern phenomenon, likely sold by businesses using a skeleton staff.