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Halloween's Favorite Son - Dracula

© Anita Stratos

It's October - the month when beautiful fall scenery melts into a mere backdrop for the telling of bloodcurdling folk tales, ghost sightings, and eerie happenings. And who am I to stand in the way of such bone-chilling traditions? In honor of the holiday that has raised more goose bumps than R.L. Stine, I must dedicate this month's column to the man of the season, perhaps the only creepy Halloween costume that was derived from a real live person - Dracula. Or as he was better known in his home of Wallachia, Vlad Tepes, aka Vlad the Impaler.

Most people already know that Vlad was the real Dracula, the ruler who committed gruesome acts of brutality from which he apparently derived a twisted pleasure. German pamphlets refer to him as a "bloodthirsty berserker" who butchered innocent people with sadistic pleasure. But in Romania Vlad is portrayed as a beloved leader, a man who tolerated no dishonesty. Streets have been named after him, statues have been erected, and even a commemorative postage stamp was issued in 1976 in his honor. For 500 years, Romanian legends depict a prince who was a champion of the common man, who eliminated crime and dishonesty from his land. In a 1976 book written by Nicolae Stoicescu entitled "Vlad Tepes", Stoicescu states that Vlad's "deeds hold a place of honour". He also states "Vlad Tepes did what was customary in his time". While all of this may be true, even these more positive views of Vlad III cannot overlook his extreme cruelties.

"Dracula" was not simply a fictitious name that Bram Stoker frivolously bestowed upon his bloodsucking character. In reality, the term "Dracula" was part of Vlad's title: the Romanian word "drac" can mean both "dragon" and "devil", and the ending "a" meant "son of". Vlad II had been admitted to the Order of the Dragon, a fraternal order of knights, for his bravery in fighting Turks. The boyars began calling him Dracul, meaning "dragon". Therefore his son, Vlad III, was referred to as "Dracula", or "son of the dragon". However, enemies of Vlad III used the other meaning of the term "dracul", calling him "son of the devil". Vlad often referred to himself as Dracula. (Ironically, the Order of the Dragon was formed not only to defend the empire against Turkey, but also to uphold Christianity!) Even the famed black cape with the red lining was not a figment of Stoker's imagination. The costume worn on Sundays by members of the Order was a red garment with a black cape over it.

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