Duppy originated in Jamaican lore. A vampiric spirit or benevolent spirit created by the shadow of the dead person. They’re feared because their breath can cause illness and if you’re touched, “Duppy boxing” can cause seizures.
In Caribbean lore, Duppies are called Jumbies.
You can conjure a Duppy by throwing Rum coins into a grave. They attack the living and cause poltergeist activities once raised.
Image from Google search
Today’s vampire comes from the Caribbean islands.
I think this is one of the scariest I’ve ever written about!
The word Jumbies is used collectively to refer to all vampiric creatures that roam the night. Jumbies look like a corpse candle as they fly through the night looking for a solitary traveler or children to drain of their blood.
They can also “ride” a person, draining the victim of life, by feeding from their life energy or sexual energy.
Jumbies are seen often in large cities as well as small villages. When in populated areas they often hide where the streetlights can’t reach. Some linger outside of windows searching for prey. You must never throw water out of a window. A wet Jumbies is a very dangerous and vengeful creature. Jumbies can be good or evil.
Since Jumbies are a corpse candle they can fly, but there is a limitation to their flight. They must stay above continuous ground; it can’t fly over water or a hole or off a cliff.
They can steal the voice of a child so they can speak. They also wear a fake human skin during the day hours, so it can pass as a human. At night, the skin is removed freeing the corpse candle to go hunting.
If you can find the skin. . . rubbing it with salt will cause it to shrivel up. When the Jumbie returns just before dawn and tries to put its skin back on, it’ll find that it won’t fit and the creature will die when exposed to the light of day.
I still have more Corpse Candle vampires for you. Come back next Wednesday for another installment of VAMPIRE WEDNESDAY.
Mari Wells 