Vampires, disease and garlic

The World

Halloween’s ghosts, goblins and ghouls are meant to be scary. And then — there are vampires. Some are campy, some are sexy, but in European history vampires were linked with disease. Host Marco Werman speaks with Stanley Stepanic, assistant professor of Slavic languages and literatures at the University of Virginia, about the possible origin of the belief that garlic could ward off a vampire.

Will you support The World?

The story you just read is not locked behind a paywall because listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World. Can we count on you?