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Ghoul
The ghoul is one of the most sinister characters of Ukrainian demonology, associated with vampirism and evil spirits. Ghouls are creatures that were once human, but after death turned into evil undead that feed on the blood of the living. Outwardly, ghouls look like normal humans, but their skin is deathly pale, their eyes are red and glow in the dark, and their nails and teeth are sharp like those of a beast. Their appearance is often accompanied by a feeling of coldness and fear.
Ghouls emerge from their graves at night, hunting humans to drink their blood and absorb their life energy. They believed that ghouls could bring illness and misfortune to families. They attack their victims at night while they sleep, causing exhaustion or even death. Ghouls have supernatural strength and invulnerability, so it is impossible to kill them by ordinary means.
To protect themselves from ghouls, people used various amulets. One of the most common methods was garlic, which was placed by the bed or carried around as it warded off evil spirits. Consecrated water, which was sprinkled on the house and the threshold, also helped, so that the ghoul could not enter. An iron or wooden cross, which was hung on the front door, played an important role. So that the ghoul could not return from the grave, he was buried with the observance of certain rituals: an aspen stake was driven into the heart or a heavy stone was placed on the grave.
Ghouls emerge from their graves at night, hunting humans to drink their blood and absorb their life energy. They believed that ghouls could bring illness and misfortune to families. They attack their victims at night while they sleep, causing exhaustion or even death. Ghouls have supernatural strength and invulnerability, so it is impossible to kill them by ordinary means.
To protect themselves from ghouls, people used various amulets. One of the most common methods was garlic, which was placed by the bed or carried around as it warded off evil spirits. Consecrated water, which was sprinkled on the house and the threshold, also helped, so that the ghoul could not enter. An iron or wooden cross, which was hung on the front door, played an important role. So that the ghoul could not return from the grave, he was buried with the observance of certain rituals: an aspen stake was driven into the heart or a heavy stone was placed on the grave.