The biological function of blood as a life force has lead to many forms of symbolism, mythology, and folklore. One of the most common is the legendary blood-sucking creature, the vampire.

There are many variations of blood sucking creatures across the world. Southeast Asia is no different, where stories of witches using black magic have resulted in another form of the blood sucking entity, combining elements of vampires and witches – the Krasue.

The names for this creature vary across Southeast Asia. In Cambodia, it’s called the Ahp; other names include the Kasu (Laos), Kuyang (Indonesia), Mai La (Vietnam), or Penanggal (Malaysia).

Though the names differ, the physical descriptions are all similar. The Krasue appears normal during the day; but once the sunsets, her head detaches from the rest of her body, her internal organs dangling beneath it, while emitting a ghostly glow.

Like most vampire stories, the sun is deadly to the Krasue, she must return to her body and reattach her head before sunrise, or else she will die.

Every night she floats through the forest looking for food (which usually consists of rotting meat or the blood of living animals.) She especially loves the blood of pregnant women, so villagers were fearful about attracting the creature during childbirth.

The vulnerability of childbirth is echoed in superstition across the world – where it’s believed both the mother and the newborn infant were particularly at risk to all the forces of evil, witchcraft, or fairies.

Putting up thorns, or spiked fences around the house is said to protect the mother and child. The Krasue worries their entrails will get caught or cut on the thorns, so they won’t risk crossing. A precautionary custom after birth was to bury the Placenta deep underground, because if the Krasue consumes the placenta, the mother becomes cursed.

Each culture has different variations on the origin of these floating heads.

In Thai folklore the Krasue is a curse resulting from a witches failed attempt at Black Magic, leaving her craving blood and raw meat. However in Cambodian folklore, the Ahp is a witch who contracted a deal evil spirits – in exchange for giving her supernatural power; the evils spirits take control of her body at night in order to feast. Granting the witch eternal life, in exchange for steeling the life force of others.