Why Are Vampires Afraid of Crosses?

As The Fearless Vampire Killer so aptly puts it, when a cross is waved at a vampire, he responds:

"Oy vay, have you got the wrong vampire."

This “cross bit” originates from the Catholic faith, which used the concept of warding off or defeating demons through a symbolic stick long before Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the church door.

How Did the Belief Arise That Vampires Can’t Stand Crosses?

Christianity is often self-righteous, asserting its god as the answer to all problems. However, in reality, this god is mostly useful for answering questions such as “Where did my money go?” There is zero reason for vampires to be scared of crosses or priests, given that the cross is made of wood, analogous to the wooden coffins vampires sleep in, and priests can also be bitten and bleed like anyone else.

The idea that vampires are terrified of crosses is a completely irrational suggestion that unsurprisingly arises from a religion.

Finding the Source: Bram Stoker's Dracula

The concept of vampires being terrified of crosses can be traced back to the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, a devout Christian. Stoker, like many other writers, used his own religious beliefs to give his characters supernatural qualities such as fear of crosses or stakes through the heart. Just as Jerry Siegel invented the belief that Superman is vulnerable to an imaginary material called Kryptonite, vampires are not real, and crosses do not possess any magical powers.

An Old Vampire Movie Parody: The Star of David

There is an old, amusing vampire movie where a vampire slayer tries to use a star of david on one of the vampires. Her therapist is her boyfriend, and the vampire likes her. He keeps her sick and is trying to kill her before she gets away. Readers might still humorously imagine the stars causing pinprick burns.

Crucifix as a Symbol in Bram Stoker’s Dracula

Crucifixes play a crucial role in Dracula as they provide protection against vampires. In the novel, a crucifix is given to Jonathan Harker to guard him against evil during his initial travel to meet Count Dracula. Later, when Jonathan is at Dracula's castle and cuts his neck, Dracula leans in to drink his blood but is stopped by the crucifix around Harker's neck. Dr Seward and Van Helsing attempt to give the necklace to Lucy to ward against vampire attacks, but the necklace is taken off her and Lucy is taken by Dracula. This symbol is often described as gold, silver, or as part of a necklace hanging around the throat of the person trying to ward off evil.

Additional Literature: An Example from Literature

For further exploration, consider the work Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice, where characters also mention crucifixes as having a protective effect against vampires. This can provide an additional layer to your investigation into vampire mythology and its relation to religious symbols.