Blutmahl

Blutmahl, literally “blood meal” in German, is a term used primarily in fictional, mythological, and fantasy contexts to describe a ritual or dietary practice centered on blood. In many works of vampire fiction, folklore-inspired narratives, and role-playing games, a Blutmahl denotes either a ceremonial consumption of blood or a rite through which participants gain power, vitality, or pact-bound ties. The concept is often associated with taboo, ritual purity, or life-force exchange, and may involve offerings, feasting, or blood libations performed by priests, nobles, or vampiric elites.

Etymology and scope: The word combines Blut (blood) and Mahl (meal). It is usually treated as a proper term within world-building rather than a generic historical phrase, and it appears more commonly in German-language fantasy literature and translated works than in scientific discourse.

In fiction, Blutmahl is commonly depicted as a climactic event or a recurring rite that defines factions, seals oaths, or marks the transition of a character or community. The exact rules—who may participate, what blood is used, and what consequences follow—vary by setting. The motif often explores themes of power, vitality, and the ethical implications of consuming or baring blood.

Reception and usage: As a trope, Blutmahl illustrates the broader cultural fascination with blood as a life force and symbol of kinship, lineage, or predation. It is generally treated as a narrative device rather than a real-world practice.

See also: blood ritual, vampirism, ritual feast.