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The Vampire subculture* loosely defines the set of beliefs, attitudes and social codes that characterize those who define themselves as Human Living Vampires or Vampyres.
The Vampyre subculture evolved from a combination of cultural myths, legends and the romanticized Hollywood image. Modern Vampires sometimes signify themselves by spelling vampire with a “y,” which distinguishes them from Hollywood, mythological, and fictional references.
Like other system of beliefs, it consists of people who have committed themselves to an ideology, maintain ethical tenets within a hierarchical system, participate in rituals specific to their clans and in which aesthetics holds a significant, often magical place of significance within the group; aesthetic being broadly defined as symbolism, style, language, religion, art, presentation of self, appearance, and other cultural expressions.
* From a sociological perspective, when a group of people participate in a shared aesthetic in which identity and status are organized around a style that is distinguishable from the dominant culture it is referred to as a subculture.
“Vampiric community” or “vampire community” is a term forged to loosely indicate all those who self-defined or fell under any definition of “vampire. “Vampiric” would in a broader sense include people who do not use the term “vampire” and those who are supporters, sympathizers and “donors.” Such a community would gather vampires who share common … Read more
The vampire subculture is largely a social creation within Western popular culture, seemingly drawing disparate elements such as the styles of Victorian England, cult symbolism, horror films and goth music, the fiction of Anne Rice, while still retaining elements and mannerisms of those participating in the S/M lifestyle. The Vampire subculture seems to exist in … Read more
The Vampyre Scene or simply the Scene is a general term for the social aspects of the vampire subculture including nightclubs, havens, events, businesses, societies, and even the online part of the subculture. The Scene is quite tolerant against their own needs and related topics and often intermixes with the Gothic scene, the S/M scene … Read more
Several major public international gatherings of vampyres taking place every year are known as the Endless Night Vampire Balls : in New Orleans every Halloween weekend, in Paris, France in April and also in New York City, Amsterdam and now Prague. Endless Nights is a mix of burlesque performance, a masquerade ball and rock concert. … Read more
The Sanguinarium (www.sanguinarium.net) was a network, community and resource for the vampyre subculture and scene founded in 1995 by Father Sebastian as Clan Sabretooth in New York’s underground club scene. Inspired by the “vampire connection” of vampire bars, nightclubs and safehouses founded in Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, the Sanguinarium serves to bring this vision to … Read more
The Black Veil is a set of ethical guidelines designed to serve as a moral compass for the vampire community. The original Black Veil was written by Father Sebastian for the Sanguinarium in 1999. The first published version of the Black Veil was found by many reminiscent of the seven Traditions of the Masquerade. These … Read more
Use of language and etiquette is very significant in the Sanguinarium, which claims to promote chivalry, honor, style, and creativity. The expression “The Awakening” alludes to initial attraction to the Vampyre aesthetic, which is also referred to as the “birth to darkness” or “the becoming.” The code of conduct is enforced by the Elders in … Read more
Covens (House/Household/Clans) are groups of individual vampires or vampyre lifestylers, usually but not always located within a certain geographic area, who have banded together under a specific theme, set of ideals, traditions, common Sigil, havens, membership requirements, hierarchy and/or rites. Covens range in size from as few as three members to as many as hundreds. … Read more