Halloween Monster Trivia: 13 Facts About Werewolves

Things can get pretty hairy when a werewolf is involved. A classic Halloween icon, the werewolf plays well with others most of the time. But when their inner beast emerges, look out! Here are thirteen werewolf facts to inform and entertain you this Halloween.

1. Werewolf legends exist in most of the world's cultures. Some of the tales date back to the beginning of written history. One of the earliest examples is the story of King Lycaon of Greece.

2. Lycanthropy is the supernatural condition whereby a human transforms into a wolf. If an afflicted person transforms into another type of animal, the correct term for their condition is therianthropy.

3. Historically, werewolf legends have been used to explain the acts of serial killers. Rabies, schizophrenia, porphyria, and hypertrichosis (a medical condition that causes excessive hair growth) have also been mistaken for lycanthropy.

4. Werewolves can be created in a variety of ways. Some say that lycanthropy is a curse or divine punishment. Others say it is the result of deals with dark forces. Still others suggest that werewolves can be born naturally, contract lycanthropy through the bite of another werewolf, or obtain their powers by wearing an enchanted wolf skin or belt. Other theories abound - including drinking water from the footprints of a werewolf!

5. How can you spot a werewolf? The symptoms vary widely, according to the source. Some interesting signs from folklore and popular film and literature include: uncontrollable rage; insomnia; a hairline that forms a widow's peak; hair or magical marks on the palms of the hands; eyebrows that meet in the middle; an unnatural fear of water; excessive body hair; unusually compelling eyes; longer-than-average third fingers on each hand; and difficulty pronouncing words that start with the letter 'W'.

6. Clinical Lycanthropy is a real psychological condition in which a person believes their body changes into a wolf or other creature.

7. Some suggest that mercury, not silver, might be the best choice for dealing with werewolves. Alchemists in ages past could have easily mistaken "quicksilver" for true silver.