h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The most logical way of attempting to understand the more often than not quite bizarre characteristics of a vampire is to look at those thing that occupied the society when such legends were prevolent. The modern or "Hollywood" vampire is a figure that stems from plague-ridden eastern Europe in the late middle-ages and early-modern period. Repulsed by garlic, the consumption of which promotes bodily health, and destroyed by sunlight (what else apart from running water, to which it is also vulnerable, makes the crops grow in the fields?) the vampire thus moves at night when all honest folk that work the fields are in bed. And what else apart from their faith would such simple people cling to to repel such a creature? Hence the problem with the crucifix.