LegendsGuide.com

“Even a man who is pure at heart,
And says his prayers at night.
Will turn to a wolf when the wolfbane blooms,
And the moon is full and bright.”

Man has had an innate fear of wolves since the dawn of time. Early man may have had to compete with wolves for food – as the wolf packs and man often hunted the same prey. And sometimes man, himself, was the wolves’ most desired meal of the moment…

That fear of wolves so manifested maybe responsible for the legend of the werewolf. The idea of a wolf that is part man and possessed of both the cunning and ferocity of the wolf and the intelligence and form of a man is quite fearsome, indeed.

The werewolf has its origins in the folklore and legend of many different cultures, particularly in places with historical wolf populations. The Werewolf developed many common attributes in European legend. Many were believed to become active during the full moon. These werewolves were believed to be human during the day and became transformed during the night time. Many cultures saw werewolves as wolves with no tails.

There were many methods developed to determine if a person was a werewolf in human form. Some common attributes were believed to signify a person as such. Eyebrows that met over the nose, hair in a cut or wound, bristly hair under the tongue, and curved fingernails were all indicators of werewolves.

There were also many beliefs regarding the method in which a person would become a werewolf. Some believed that simply wearing a belt made of a wolf’s hide would be enough. Other beliefs include: drinking water from a wolf’s paw print, sleeping under a full moon on certain days, being born the seventh son, and sometimes being bitten by another werewolf.

Much like vampires, werewolves had their weaknesses and much effort was put forth into creating effective preventative measures and ways to kill werewolves. One of the most recognizable beliefs is the power of silver. Modern interpretations use the silver bullet as the most effective weapon against the werewolf, most effective if the werewolf is shot by a loved one. Older version required silver stakes. Mistletoe, rye, and mountain ash have also been known as effective cures to rid a person of the werewolf traits. Exorcism and surgery have also been seen as effective treatments to the afflicted.

For more information on werewolves, check out these sources:

• Werewolf Wikipedia page
• Werewolves
• Werewolf Myth

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