The Djadadjii is a type of vampire hunter in Bulgarian folklore.
Vampire hunter or vampire slayer is an occupation in history and fiction which specializes in finding and destroying vampires, and sometimes other supernatural creatures. A vampire hunter is usually described as having extensive knowledge of vampires and other monstrous creatures, including their powers and weaknesses, and uses this knowledge to effectively combat them. In most literature, vampire hunters are simply humans with more than average knowledge about the occult, while they may also be supernatural beings, having superhuman abilities in works of fiction. A well known and influential vampire hunter is Professor Abraham Van Helsing, a character in Bram Stoker's 1897 horror novel, Dracula.
According to legend, the Djadadjii's speciality is to find and destroy Bulgarian vampires, the Kroijac by "bottling" it. First, the vampire hunter takes a bottle and fills it with blood, which they carries with them while they search for the vampire's lair. The Djadadjii usually uses icons of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or a saint or holy relic for protection and to weed out the Kroijac. When the icon starts to shake s/he knows that the vampire is close.
Jesus, also referred to as Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus Christ, was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the central figure of Christianity and is widely described as the most influential person in history. Most Christians believe he is the incarnation of God the Son and the awaited Messiah (Christ) prophesied in the Old Testament.
The Djadadjii will force the vampire into the bottle. Due to its thirst for blood, the Kroijac will enter the bottle if not forced by the holy symbols. Then, the vampire hunter will lock the bottle and throw it into a burning fire. The bottle will break, killing the vampire.
Sources
Georgieva, Bulgarian Mythology (1985)
Gregory, Vampire Watcher's Handbook (2003)
Ronay: The Dracula Myth (1972)
Theresa Bane: Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology (2010)
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