Kathakano/Catacano

The Kathakano is an undead monster from remote areas of the islands of Crete and Rhodes. They are sometimes called “the happy vampire” and are related to, or a variation of, the Vrykolakas. They’re a form of undead vampire with a wide grin, known to randomly start laughing. They trick people into trusting them by posing as happy strangers or drunk people.  When someone approaches them, the smile grows larger and larger and reveals massive, sharp, white teeth. They’re known to be incredibly strong and fast, and arrogant by nature. They spit acidic blood at victims like a snake, which causes immediate pain, blindness, burns, and temporary paralysis. They use this opportunity to attack their victims and drain them of blood. Otherwise, they use this opportunity to turn people into vampires by spitting regurgitated blood on them. If attacked by a Kathakano, they can be scared by burning off their flammable nails. Salt water can also be used as a deterrent. During the day, they return to their graves, leaving them vulnerable. It’s believed they can be stopped by trapping them behind saltwater. They can be killed by boiling their severed head in vinegar.  They can be killed during this time by digging up the body and performing an exorcism. A specific method of killing a Kathakano starts by driving thick stakes through the shoulders and thighs to pin the body in place. This is followed by chopping off the head with a blade washed by rainwater and wrapped in a blouse from a virgin under fifteen years old. This is done so the purity can drive off the evil spirit possessing the corpse. Next, the creature’s severed head should be placed in a pot containing one-third vinegar and two-thirds water from melted snow. After this, the head is then left to boil for an hour before being returned to the grave, faced down and sprinkled with garlic. If all this is done properly, it cannot rise again. If this is done incorrectly and fails, the body is dug up again the next day, and the coffin and corpse are burned completely to ashes. These ashes are poured back into the open grave. 

Citations: 

Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United States, Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2006.

Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2017.

Regan, Lisa. Vampires, Werewolves and Zombies. United Kingdom, Amber Books Limited, 2012.

Guiley, Rosemary. The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves, and Other Monsters. Ukraine, Facts On File, Incorporated, 2004.

Haining, Peter. A dictionary of vampires. London, Robert Hale, 2000.