I know a few Romanians here in Portland. They’re normal, decent people who make delicious cabbage rolls and a polenta that will knock your socks off. But over the past year or so, I’ve read two horror novels (don’t ask) in which the “monster” is Romanian.

I thought, “Ha ha–likely story,” and since then have begun running across news stories like this one: Villagers dig up, ‘kill’ vampire corpses.

What is this? Are these like American snake-handlers–weird and few and held up for news interest?

Are they the same people who created these churches?

What does it all mean?