upirs

Upirs are a type of revenant or undead creature found in Slavic folklore. They are often described as having the ability to return from the dead and torment the living. The characteristics attributed to upirs vary across different regions and traditions, but common traits include a pale complexion, bloated body, and a reddish or dark discoloration of the skin. Some accounts suggest they possess sharp teeth or a longer-than-usual tongue.

The process by which someone becomes an upir is also varied. It is often believed that individuals who led immoral lives, died of unnatural causes, or were excommunicated from the church could rise as upirs. In some traditions, a person could also become an upir if bitten by one.

Upirs were thought to leave their graves at night to feed on the blood or life force of the living, often targeting their own family members or villagers. This feeding would cause the victims to fall ill and eventually die, weakening the community. It was also believed that upirs could spread disease and misfortune.

Methods of combating upirs were numerous and often involved rituals performed after a suspected upir's death. These could include exhuming the body and performing specific actions such as piercing the corpse with a stake, decapitating it, or burning it. Sometimes, specific objects like garlic or hawthorn were placed in the grave to prevent the upir from rising. The belief in upirs highlights ancient fears of death, the unknown, and the breakdown of natural order within communities.