Garlic has
long been held as a universal ward against evil. There is plenty of information
about how it purifies the blood, keeps away blood sucking insects, gives strength,
courage, and bestows other attributes.
But here is
what’s not talked about. Garlic is easy to produce. Garlic is not super
particular about where and how it grows. It was also cheap for the peasant
masses. Fields of garlic were not uncommon in Ancient Greece, Egypt, Rome, and
Europe. Its white color also lent itself to the idea that it was pure and
sacred.
While consumption
of garlic was used for many benefits, warding away vampires and other forces
started first as a kind of threshold barrier. Bulbs or ropes of bulbs were hung
in the home for protection. From there people extrapolated that if the hanging of
bulbs could protect the home, why not individuals? So people began carrying and
wearing bulbs of garlic to keep all manner of evil spirits (including vampires)
away.
Nothing
specific is written about what the garlic does to a vampire, simply that they
cannot tolerate it. Because of garlic’s pungent aroma, most beliefs focus on
this idea, but there’s very little to substantiate it. Another idea is that
because garlic has purifying aspects, and because it can keep bloodsucking
insects at bay, the garlic purifies the blood, making it dangerous for vampires
to consume.