World Dracula Day – How & Where to Celebrate the Most Famous Vampire
World Dracula Day is on May 26th every year! How do you celebrate the most famous vampire? Here are some great ways how and where to honor him!
Every May 26th, lovers of literature and vampires alike gather to celebrate the most famous vampire of all – Dracula. World Dracula Day commemorates the publication date of Bram Stoker’s Dracula on May 26, 1897.
Arguably the most well-known and iconic monster, Dracula has inspired writers and horror lovers all over the world. It’s only fitting that there is an entire day dedicated to the Count. So, let’s sink our fangs into World Dracula Day!
History of World Dracula Day
Vampires, or at least the concept and legends, have existed for centuries. Bram Stoker based Dracula on a real live person though – not just a legend.
Prince Vlad III of Wallachia (Romania) was the muse behind Stoker’s masterpiece. Vlad earned the nickname “Vlad the Impaler” for the many ways he tortured his opponents and betrayers with impaling being his favorite method.
Stoker’s Dracula attempts to move from Transylvania and finally arrives in a small fishing village named Whitby, England.
To this day, Whitby in northern England hosts multiple events to celebrate Dracula including the famous castle in ruins that is lit up during certain seasons.
Dracula may be the OG vampire, but there’s no denying that literature and film boast a wide variety of vampires from sparkly ones to ruthless ones to mockumentaries.
How to Celebrate World Dracula Day
Read Bram Stoker’s Dracula
I feel like I can’t start this list without putting this as the #1 way to celebrate World Dracula Day. Whether you’ve never read this classic or it’s time for a re-read, this is always a good idea!
Plan a Dracula-Inspired Trip
Even if you can’t travel at the moment, why not plan a Dracula-inspired trip for the future?
Locations would include Budapest, England, and other Eastern European locations.
Visit Filming Locations of True Blood, The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, Buffy, and More!
There are tons of vampire shows that have been filmed in the US so why not visit some of the locations?
The Originals is filmed primarily in New Orleans, The Vampire Diaries in Georgia, True Blood is mostly on set in California (but some locations in the South), and Buffy has several filming locations including several in California.
Have a Vampire Movie Marathon
Watch some vampire movies and shows as you pay homage to World Dracula Day.
Want classic?
- Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
- Interview with the Vampire
- Nosferatu the Vampyre
Want comedy?
- What We Do in the Shadows
- Dark Shadows
- The Vampire’s Assistant
Want gore?
- 30 Days of Night
- Queen of the Damned
- Dracula Untold
Want action?
- Blade
- The Lost Boys
- Underworld
Visit Bran Castle in Romania
This castle in Romania has long been believed to be the home of Vlad the Impaler and is often referred to as Dracula’s castle instead of its official name.
No matter what you call it though, it’s beautiful and haunting and definitely worth a visit on World Dracula Day or any other time.
Check Out the Musée Des Vampires, France
Tucked away in Paris, there’s a museum dedicated completely to all things vampire. Visits can only be made by appointment and visitors are treated to an eclectic collection of books, photographs, weapons, masks, models, costumes, and other curios referencing the vampire legend. There’s also a creepy Gothic garden out the back.
RESOURCES
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Ashley Hubbard
Ashley Hubbard is a writer, photographer, and blogger based in Nashville, Tennessee. When she's not searching out the strange and unusual things in life, she's searching out vegan food and is passionate about sustainability, animal rights, and social justice.
3 Comments
Kris
“Prince Vlad III of Wallachia (Romania) was the muse behind’s Stoker’s masterpiece. Vlad earned the nickname “Vlad the Impaler” for the many ways he tortured his opponents and betrayers with impaling being his favorite method.”
There has never been factual evidence of Stocker ever implying that Dracula is based off of Vlad Tepes. Vlad Dracul, Tepes’ father, carried the name Dracul (not Dracula) which meant dragon. There are similarities in the spelling between the two names just as there are similarities between other names and words. But they don’t mean or are related by definition in any way (contronyms, for example).
Speculation by vampire fans is all this is based on. But researchers and literary scholars have closely studied Stoker’s personal journals, notes, journals of his friends, etc. A dream seems to be Stoker’s inspiration for Dracula. I studied under a professor who researched Stoker’s work as well. Although it’s a fun story to reminisce over, there are not any genuine facts to solidify what is mostly a theory.
Monica
Theis movie list completely ignored the most famous movie Dracula, Bela Lugosi. And outside of nosferatu was the only “classic”.
Rosemarie "Bella" Augerlavoie
I love castles I always wanted to just dance like a princess. I dram of fairy tales since my life has been horrible from birth. One day while in prison I flew above the facility and the I thought about pizza and beer. 😜