Hawthorn is supposedly especially dangerous for the undead according to Balkan folklore. Stakes for dealing with the undead would have been specifically made from hawthorn for its magical properties, although I think that little tidbit has been phased out in modern depictions.
When Petar Blagojevic, an infamous Serbian vampire, was staked, it was said that “when they drove a hawthorn stake through him, fresh red blood flowed from his mouth and ears”, so I assume it could also have the effect of bleeding out whatever blood it consumed.
As a side note, I find it interesting how vampires (weird bloated corpses that could fit through small holes like some weird gelatinous creature) have become more like dhampir (their half-human offspring) in modern media.
Hawthorn is supposedly especially dangerous for the undead according to Balkan folklore. Stakes for dealing with the undead would have been specifically made from hawthorn for its magical properties, although I think that little tidbit has been phased out in modern depictions.
When Petar Blagojevic, an infamous Serbian vampire, was staked, it was said that “when they drove a hawthorn stake through him, fresh red blood flowed from his mouth and ears”, so I assume it could also have the effect of bleeding out whatever blood it consumed.
As a side note, I find it interesting how vampires (weird bloated corpses that could fit through small holes like some weird gelatinous creature) have become more like dhampir (their half-human offspring) in modern media.