June
01
/ 2016
The nachzehrer, also known as a shroud eater, is a type of German vampire which features prominently in the folklore of Germany’s northern region. According to legend, it needed to devour both its burial shroud and body in order to survive. The word nach may be translated into English as ‘after’, whilst zehrer may be translated as ‘living off’. This combination of words alludes to what the nachzehrer is believed to be, i.e. a creature that lives after death, or a being that lives off humans even after its death. Apart from northern Germany, tales of the nachzehrer / creatures similar to it are said to exist in the folklore of Silesia and Bavaria, as well as amongst the Kashubians
