Like vampires, werewolves have had a bit of a revolution, going from evil monster, to hunky heart throbs in paranormal romance novels. Here are thirteen facts about the werewolf that will make you howl under a full moon.
1: Norse Origins.
Fenrir—son of Loki—was father of both wolves and werewolves. The gods bound him in a magical chain. When the chain was placed upon him, he bit off the hand of the god, Tyr. He was then gagged with a sword and destined to lie bound to a rock until Ragnarok (aka the end of the world.)
2: No, you’re not immortal.
Some stories claim being a werewolf means you will live forever, but that’s not always the case. You will age much slower and heal from injury faster than a normal human.
3: How to kill a werewolf.
You can’t wait for the werewolf to die. They age much slower than the average human, but they aren’t immortal. To kill a werewolf, you must destroy the heart or the brain. Decapitation also works well.
4: A werewolf epidemic.
In 1700s, France fell under siege by werewolves. Over 100 people were killed by a pack known as the Beasts of Gevaudan. The French Army was even called to fight them and many believed the deaths were carried out by dog-wolf hybrids.
5: Are you a werewolf?
If you suspect you are, then you probably are. Lycanthropy is the most well known name. It involves rapid hair growth, an insatiable hunger for raw meat, and turning into a full wolf. You might also get moody, have insomnia, and get violent.
6: No, seriously, are you a werewolf?
There is an actual condition that afflicts people that makes them a werewolf. Hypertrichosis is a condition where hair sprouts all over the person’s body and face. Although, the full moon has no affect on the condition.
7: Proof isn’t required.
Like the Salem witch trials, if someone was accused of being a werewolf, that was proof enough. Often the person accused would be sentenced to death.
8: Silver bullets?
Modern folklore claims silver is the one metal strong enough to kill a werewolf, but the true element that works the best is quicksilver. Quicksilver is a liquid form of Mercury. Remember that next time you are stocking up for your werewolf hunt.
9: Howling under the full moon.
Whether a werewolf is affected by the full moon depends on the story. Some claim a werewolf can only shift during the full moon, while others have their werewolves shape-shifting whenever they feel like it. No matter if the moon plays a roll or not, clothing never seems to survive the shifting.
10: Lucky number seven.
In some folklore, to become a werewolf you have to be the seventh born son. This belief was so prevalent in Brazilian, Portuguese, and Galician communities that the seventh son would be adopted out or even killed by their own parents.
11: Born on Christmas Eve.
On the flip side, in Russian lore, children born on Christmas Eve are destined to become werewolves.
12: The Sinful Women.
Armenian folklore takes a different twist on who and how to become a werewolf. If a woman commits a deadly sin, she is condemned to spend seven years in wolf form. This often ends in her eating her children, relative’s children, and any other child she can lay her paws on.
13: The Good Werewolf.
While the good werewolf is more popular in modern times, not all historic tales of werewolves painted them as evil. In Latvia and Lithuania, good werewolves were handy to have around for protection.
And there you have 13 facts about werewolves to make you howl. I hope you enjoyed them. What fact was your favorite? (Source 1. Source 2)
1: Norse Origins.
Fenrir—son of Loki—was father of both wolves and werewolves. The gods bound him in a magical chain. When the chain was placed upon him, he bit off the hand of the god, Tyr. He was then gagged with a sword and destined to lie bound to a rock until Ragnarok (aka the end of the world.)
2: No, you’re not immortal.
Some stories claim being a werewolf means you will live forever, but that’s not always the case. You will age much slower and heal from injury faster than a normal human.
3: How to kill a werewolf.
You can’t wait for the werewolf to die. They age much slower than the average human, but they aren’t immortal. To kill a werewolf, you must destroy the heart or the brain. Decapitation also works well.
4: A werewolf epidemic.
In 1700s, France fell under siege by werewolves. Over 100 people were killed by a pack known as the Beasts of Gevaudan. The French Army was even called to fight them and many believed the deaths were carried out by dog-wolf hybrids.
5: Are you a werewolf?
If you suspect you are, then you probably are. Lycanthropy is the most well known name. It involves rapid hair growth, an insatiable hunger for raw meat, and turning into a full wolf. You might also get moody, have insomnia, and get violent.
6: No, seriously, are you a werewolf?
There is an actual condition that afflicts people that makes them a werewolf. Hypertrichosis is a condition where hair sprouts all over the person’s body and face. Although, the full moon has no affect on the condition.
7: Proof isn’t required.
Like the Salem witch trials, if someone was accused of being a werewolf, that was proof enough. Often the person accused would be sentenced to death.
8: Silver bullets?
Modern folklore claims silver is the one metal strong enough to kill a werewolf, but the true element that works the best is quicksilver. Quicksilver is a liquid form of Mercury. Remember that next time you are stocking up for your werewolf hunt.
9: Howling under the full moon.
Whether a werewolf is affected by the full moon depends on the story. Some claim a werewolf can only shift during the full moon, while others have their werewolves shape-shifting whenever they feel like it. No matter if the moon plays a roll or not, clothing never seems to survive the shifting.
10: Lucky number seven.
In some folklore, to become a werewolf you have to be the seventh born son. This belief was so prevalent in Brazilian, Portuguese, and Galician communities that the seventh son would be adopted out or even killed by their own parents.
11: Born on Christmas Eve.
On the flip side, in Russian lore, children born on Christmas Eve are destined to become werewolves.
12: The Sinful Women.
Armenian folklore takes a different twist on who and how to become a werewolf. If a woman commits a deadly sin, she is condemned to spend seven years in wolf form. This often ends in her eating her children, relative’s children, and any other child she can lay her paws on.
13: The Good Werewolf.
While the good werewolf is more popular in modern times, not all historic tales of werewolves painted them as evil. In Latvia and Lithuania, good werewolves were handy to have around for protection.
And there you have 13 facts about werewolves to make you howl. I hope you enjoyed them. What fact was your favorite? (Source 1. Source 2)
