2011Myths and Flora - Hawthorn - First Day Cover

The legends about werewolves and vampires are widespread throughout Europe and similar legend occurs in other parts of the world. The myths about the bloodthirsty creatures also existed in the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China. In mythology the werewolf is a person who changes his form into wolf by magic in the night of the full moon. According to the folk legend, werewolf is identified with the vampire that is, with the dead person who rises from the grave at night, attacks people and sucks their blood and possesses supernatural powers. The term vampirism is also used in zoology for the animals and organisms (e.g. bats, mosquitoes, leeches...) that live on the fluids of other animals, one of which is blood.
According to the folk belief, one can defend himself from vampires and werewolves by hawthorn’s stake and thorn. Hawthorn is considered as a medical herb, known form Pharaonic times, and is used in treating many disease. Hawthorn’s leaves, flowers and fruits are used, prepared in different ways.