Welcome to werewolf wednesday where the moon is always full and I am howling! Eery single Wednesday I will be profiling a new werewolf from books, TV or movies. I might also mix it up a bit some weeks and throw in some other furry fun!! Please feel free to join and howl along with me every week!
Today for Werewolf Wednesday I will be giving you some facts and information about werewolves. How much of this did you know? How much do you believe?
*Another name for werewolf is Lycanthropy. Lycanthropy comes from the Greek lykoi, “wolf” and anthropos, “man”
*The most widely known story of a werewolf is perhaps Little Red Riding Hood (Gasp! I didn’t say Twilight!). This tale is said to have been made up back in the day to scare children from venturing off alone in the woods. It was told that wolves would target children because they were small and fragile. Little Red Riding Hood features a young girl in a red cloak who talks to a wolf and the wolf dresses in clothes to fool the young girl. A regular wolf? I think not.
*To become a werewolf one must experience one of these things:
*Being cursed by a witch
*Being born a one
*Being bitten by one
*By drinking from a paw print of a werewolf
*Making a deal with Satan
*To kill a werewolf you must shoot it with a silver bullet, cut off its head or expose it to wolfsbane
* The oldest account of a man changing into a wolf came from ancient Greece. Lycaon (from whom the term lycanthropy is derived) was changed into a wolf by Zeus when he angered the God by trying to trick him into eating human flesh at a dinner. Cannibalism was thought to be extremely taboo and Zeus sensed that he was being tricked and became extremely angered thus causing him to turn Lycaon into a werewolf.
*The word Werewolf is an Old English term meaning shape-shifter.
*Another story that could account for the legend of the werewolf is the Norse legends about the ‘berserkers’. Berserkers were crazed warriors that dressed as wolves when they savagely raided and wreaked havoc in villages in Europe.
*Werewolves are said to have to shift during a full moon. Some legends state that this is the only time they can shift. Others say that weres can shift at will. Personally, I like that they can shift at will. 😉
So those are my facts today about werewolves. Did I forget any? Do agree/disagree with any? Tell me what YOU think makes a werewolf.
Wow, these are actually really interesting! I had never thought about the wolf in Little Red Riding Wolf as a werewolf before. You have changed my perception of that story forever now, Cambria! 😉
Awesome! It is really interesting isn’t it? I never thought about it that way either until I heard the tale a few years ago but it does make sense….. 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
These are cool tidbits about werewolves, thanks! I’ve actually read a few werewolf novels lately: Red by Kait Nolan (a clever retelling of Little Red Riding Hood), Bitten by Kelley Armstrong & The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan.
Hi Emma! I haven’t read any of those and I am going to add them to my TBR pile now!!! They sound fantastic! thanks for telling us about them!
Well, there were the skinwalkers of the Americas, people who, it was said, were witches and would use animal skins to transform themselves into animals, including wolves. 🙂
Thanks for the fun fact Katy!!! So many intersting things to learn about! 😉
Imformative post! Drinking from the paw of a werewolf…hmm imteresting. I love reading the details behind old legends. You know I picked up a copy of that Last Werewolf book in the summer. I need to read it! Great post!
Love. Love. Love. There was only one fact you left out. It’s not a very well-known one, but I hear they are MOST attracted to lil’ southern blondes. Interesting, right? 😀