werewolves howl at the moon because

werewolves howl at the moon because | i love werewolves http://ilovewerewolves.com/blog/werewolves-howl-at-the-moon-because/#comment-1781 Pete Sat, 29 Mar 2008 10:18:33 +0000 http://ilovewerewolves.com/blog/werewolves-howl-at-the-moon-because/#comment-1781 Just for the record: The full moon thing is a creation of the cinema, and has nothing to do with werewolves. It began with the movie THE WEREWOLF OF LONDON, and was used again in the Lon Chaney, Jr. WOLF MAN films (not so much in the first one, but the sequels). You see, the "werewolf" in the movies is really a version of Mr. Hyde from DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE. The filmmakers took elements from other stories and legends, and this hodgepodge became what the general public thinks of when they hear the word "werewolf." Here is a list of items commonly associated with werewolves that are not part of the true werewolf legend: 1. The bite of a werewolf will turn the victim into a werewolf. Sorry, but this is adopted from the legend of the vampire. The vampire's bite was thought to turn the victim into a vampire. It's not that simple, but this is where it comes from. 2. The person becomes a werewolf at full moon. This is drawn from the documented cases of lunatics, or people who went mad when the moon was full. The moon served as a catalyst for the transformation in the movies. More on that a little later. 3. The werewolf can only be killed by silver. This is another cinematic creation. Silver has been referred to as "moon metal," so the "moon monster" can only be killed with "moon metal." It also serves to render the beast less susceptible to conventional weaponry, thus making it harder to kill in the film. 4. The sign of the beast is the pentagram. Nope. The pentagram has come to be known as a witch or occult symbol, but it actually began with early scientists and mathematicians, who were regarded in ancient times as wizards. The symbol they used to identify themselves for their secret meetings was . . . the pentagram. The truth is, for the title character in a werewolf movie to be sympathetic to the audience, he can't WANT to be a werewolf. So the filmmakers took the story of Dr. Henry Jekyll and used the werewolf for the Mr. Hyde persona. There is a catalyst (formula/moon) and the transformation is involuntary and makes the afflicted person's loved one's vulnerable. REAL werewolves of legend changed at will at any time of day or year. They were transformed by magic and often used wolfskin or ointment in a ritual to make it happen. But the Wolf Man and his full moon transformations is all movie, and has no foundation in the legend of the werewolf. Just for the record: The full moon thing is a creation of the cinema, and has nothing to do with werewolves. It began with the movie THE WEREWOLF OF LONDON, and was used again in the Lon Chaney, Jr. WOLF MAN films (not so much in the first one, but the sequels).

You see, the “werewolf” in the movies is really a version of Mr. Hyde from DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE. The filmmakers took elements from other stories and legends, and this hodgepodge became what the general public thinks of when they hear the word “werewolf.”

Here is a list of items commonly associated with werewolves that are not part of the true werewolf legend:

1. The bite of a werewolf will turn the victim into a werewolf.
Sorry, but this is adopted from the legend of the vampire. The vampire’s bite was thought to turn the victim into a vampire. It’s not that simple, but this is where it comes from.

2. The person becomes a werewolf at full moon.
This is drawn from the documented cases of lunatics, or people who went mad when the moon was full. The moon served as a catalyst for the transformation in the movies. More on that a little later.

3. The werewolf can only be killed by silver.
This is another cinematic creation. Silver has been referred to as “moon metal,” so the “moon monster” can only be killed with “moon metal.” It also serves to render the beast less susceptible to conventional weaponry, thus making it harder to kill in the film.

4. The sign of the beast is the pentagram.
Nope. The pentagram has come to be known as a witch or occult symbol, but it actually began with early scientists and mathematicians, who were regarded in ancient times as wizards. The symbol they used to identify themselves for their secret meetings was . . . the pentagram.

The truth is, for the title character in a werewolf movie to be sympathetic to the audience, he can’t WANT to be a werewolf. So the filmmakers took the story of Dr. Henry Jekyll and used the werewolf for the Mr. Hyde persona. There is a catalyst (formula/moon) and the transformation is involuntary and makes the afflicted person’s loved one’s vulnerable.

REAL werewolves of legend changed at will at any time of day or year. They were transformed by magic and often used wolfskin or ointment in a ritual to make it happen.

But the Wolf Man and his full moon transformations is all movie, and has no foundation in the legend of the werewolf.

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