What is a Dhampir?

The son of a vampire, or dhampir, is called upon by the victim of a vampire for the services of this vampire hunter. According to Gypsy lore intercourse between a vampire and his widow will produce a male child that would develop unusual powers. A pronounced nose was a typical feature of the offspring as well as larger than normal ears, teeth or eyes. The Slavic Gypsies prized the presence of a set of twins born on a Saturday who were willing to wear their underpants inside out. Apparently this odd spectacle would cause a vampire to flee immediately. http://www.bubblews.com/news/685541-what-is-a-dhampir

Gypsies and the preservation of Vampire Lore

The vampires of Eastern mythology were introduced to the West in the Middles Ages by the Romany Gypsies who migrated from Northen India via Eqypt and North Africa into Europe about a thousand years ago. They eventually settled in Germany, Greece, Romania and the Slavic-speaking countires of Hungary, Russia, Poland, Slovenia and Serbia. These nomadic folk were well acquainted with Indian vampiric deities and beliefs of the dead and merged them with their own beliefs. Historians claim that they arrived in the tenth century as they were noted in Crete in 1322 yet the first record of Gypsies in Europe originates from Germany in 1417. They were exiles from “Little Eqypt” and Europeans called them “Egyptians” which eventually evolved in the now “Gypsies” derivative. They spoke Romany which is related to Sanskrit and their customs are generally quite similar to Hindu customs. The Gypsy universe is naturally populated by numerous deities and spirits which is also governed by fear, taboo, rules and regulations governing the manner in which the living should deal with the dead and dying. The Romany people have, however, endured constant disparagement and had been unjustly viewed as pariahs and blamed for a variety of crimes and evils without substantiation. They have often been depicted as ignorant and superstitious peasants in vampire ficion while the contrary is true. The Romany culture is in fact independent and resilient allowing for the preservation of vampire traditions and customs and subsequently playing a crucial role in preserving vampire lore all over the world. http://www.bubblews.com/news/679829-gypsies-and-the-preservation-of-vampire-lore