Rooted in Romanian folklore, the Strigoi are often called the original vampires—undead beings said to rise from the grave, torment the living, and drain life from those they once knew. But unlike the sleek vampires of fiction, the Strigoi are messy. Chaotic. Superstitious. And terrifying in a way that feels almost too real.
Let’s open the coffin and explore the truth, the terror, and the enduring myth of the Strigoi.
What Is a Strigoi?
In Romanian folklore, a Strigoi (plural: Strigoii) is a troubled spirit that returns from the grave. They may be male or female, young or old. They may appear in the form of a corpse, a shadow, or even a bat or cat. But their goal is nearly always the same: to feed.
Strigoi are known to:
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Drain blood or life energy from victims
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Torment family members or villagers
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Cause illness, nightmares, and death
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Stalk the living during the night
Unlike modern vampires, who are often cursed or bitten into undeath, Strigoii are usually born with signs of their fate—a caul over the face, being the seventh child of the same sex, or even being born during specific celestial alignments. In other cases, people become Strigoi after death if they lived sinfully, died unnaturally, or weren’t buried properly.
In short: a Strigoi doesn’t always start out a monster. But they end as one.
The Two Types of Strigoi
Romanian lore often divides these creatures into two categories:
1. Strigoi Vii – The Living Strigoi
These are people believed to have the potential to become Strigoi after death. Some legends say they have magical abilities or can drain the life of others while sleeping, almost like a psychic vampire. They may be unaware of what they’re doing—until they die and complete the transformation.
2. Strigoi Mort – The Dead Strigoi
These are the undead. The ones that rise from the grave, pale and hungry. Sometimes they come back to visit loved ones. Other times, they wander in anger or torment. In many stories, they look completely normal—until it’s too late.
This division between potential and fulfilled curse makes Strigoi legends feel disturbingly personal. Anyone could become one. And you might not know until it’s already begun.
Strigoi vs. Vampire: What’s the Difference?
Strigoi are often called the ancestors of the modern vampire myth, and it’s easy to see why. They share many traits with the vampires we know today:
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They rise from the dead
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Feed on the living (usually blood or energy)
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Prefer night over day
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Can shapeshift or become invisible
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Must be destroyed through rituals involving fire, decapitation, or stake to the heart
But there are some key differences:
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Strigoi often return to torment loved ones, not just random victims. There’s something deeply personal about their hauntings.
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The fear was cultural and widespread. Villages would exhume bodies if someone fell ill unexpectedly or died too soon—just in case.
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They weren’t romanticized. The Strigoi weren’t elegant or tortured. They were monstrous. Grotesque. And very real to the people who feared them.
Rituals, Remedies, and the Graves That Wouldn’t Stay Closed
The fear of Strigoi wasn't just a legend whispered at night. It was a real, driving force behind some incredibly intense rituals—many of which were still practiced well into the 20th century.
If a village suspected someone had become a Strigoi, the steps were clear:
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Exhume the body.
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Check for signs: fresh blood at the mouth, red cheeks, bloated stomach (a sign they had fed).
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If confirmed, perform the ritual:
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Stake the heart with a wood or iron spike
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Burn the body
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Scatter the ashes or re-bury with garlic, thorns, or religious symbols
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In some regions, decapitation or removal of the heart was standard
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Sometimes, if a Strigoi was believed to have been a “living vampire” (Strigoi Vii), rituals would be done to stop them before death—placing thorns in their clothes, stabbing their shadow, or exiling them from town.
The Real Case That Shocked the Modern World
In 2004—yes, 2004—the village of Marotinu de Sus in southern Romania made international headlines.
Villagers, convinced a recently buried man named Petre Toma had returned as a Strigoi, dug up his body, removed his heart, burned it, and mixed the ashes into water to drink as protection.
This wasn’t some medieval tale. This happened in the 21st century. And while Romanian authorities arrested several people involved, the villagers remained firm: they were protecting their families.
That case reignited global interest in Strigoi and showed just how deeply these beliefs still run in certain regions.
Pop Culture and the Strigoi Reawakening
Strigoi have inspired countless works of fiction, though they’re often overshadowed by their more popular cousin: the vampire. Still, echoes of their legend appear in:
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The Strain trilogy by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan (and TV adaptation) – features vampire-like creatures called Strigoi
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The movie Strigoi (2009) – a horror-comedy set in rural Romania with a modern undead twist
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Various episodes of shows like Grimm, The Witcher, and even Supernatural
Unlike Dracula or Lestat, Strigoi aren’t sexy. They’re uncomfortable. Unsettling. And that’s exactly what makes them ripe for rediscovery.
Why the Legend Still Lingers
The Strigoi legend is more than a monster story—it’s a cultural mirror.
It reflects our fear of:
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Death without closure
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The undead returning with unfinished business
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Being consumed—by grief, guilt, or vengeance
It speaks to old-world superstitions about the soul, the body, and the thin veil between the two. And it raises uncomfortable questions about how much of the past still lives in us today.
Maybe that’s why the Strigoi have endured.
They don’t sparkle.
They don’t seduce.
They haunt.
Final Thoughts: Bloodlines and Burial Grounds
The Strigoi aren’t just a footnote in vampire history—they’re the beginning. And in some places, they’ve never really gone away.
Whether they’re rotting in forgotten graves or whispering through old legends, the undead of Romania still grip the imagination in ways no fictional vampire ever could.
So the next time you hear about a creature scratching at windows, or a shadow lurking near a fresh grave, remember: not all monsters wear capes. Some wear the faces of the ones we’ve lost.
And some… never stay buried.
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