werewolf

Everyone knows the myths of how to kill a werewolf

with silver, which actually originated from the movie,

The Wolfman. But this has no basis in the historical

records of the Middle Ages - when scores of people

were tried for being werewolves and hanged.

How to deal with a Swedish Werewolf

In Uppland they tell of a marriage at which the bride

and groom, the minister, and all the guests were suddenly

turned into werewolves. (I have seen voracious appetites at

the receptions, but not at marriage ceremonies.) The

werewolves rushed out in a pack and attacked villagers

and their cattle. One villager noted that a black werewolf

had a white spot at its throat where a minister's stock would

be. He asked, "Could you be Parson Salvander?"

"Yes, I am," replied the creature and instantly he turned back into the minister, who then rushed off home to write a sermon.

If you meet a Swedish werewolf, just call him by the name of the person who assumed the horrible shape. The creature will then be restored
to human form.

Ways to Become a Werewolf:

Participating in the rituals of certain secret societies.

Wearing the pelt of a dead wolf or werewolf.

Drinking water from a wolf's footprint.

Donning a special magical belt. According to Der Deutsche Volksund Aberglaube der Gegenwart, a 1925 book on German folklore,
"People change, mostly just after several hours, into wolves by wearing a wolf belt on the naked body." The belt is made of "wolf's leather
or human skin often adorned with the zodiac, and with seven tongues on the buckle," the book says. To return to human form, the
werewolf must open the buckle.

Eating dust from a wolf's footprint.

Drinking water from a cursed spring known to be the Harz Mountains in Germany.

Drinking downstream from wolves.

Wearing a cursed moonstone.

Dreaming about running with wolves.

Eating a wolf's brains.

Sleeping outside on a Friday night when the full moon can shine on your face.

Plucking a rare white marsh flower that grows only in the Balkans.

Having sex with a werewolf.

In shamanistic rituals, gaining the wolf as you "totem animal" or special guardian.

Being possessed by the soul of a wolf, a risk during deep meditation.

Being cursed by a God. This goes back to the ancient Greek myth of Lycan, who was turned into a wolf by Zeus (giving us the scientific
term for a werewolf, "lycanthrope")

Being born the seventh, of seven consecutive daughters. Being born on the winter solstice or Christmas Eve. When you reach puberty,
the horrifying transformation was supposed to begin.