Dracula souvenirs in Romania: Materiality, aesthetics, meaning

Conference: Dracula Returns - A Conference and Celebration

Dates: 15-18 May 2025

Abstract:

Souvenirs are a key part of the material culture of tourism and they play an important role for tourists in ensuring that a holiday is remembered. This paper examines Dracula-themed souvenirs that are sold in Romania to fans and enthusiasts. Such souvenirs are not readily available, being confined to a small number of iconic sites on the Dracula trail, most notably Bran Castle and Hotel Castle Dracula. There is a wide variation in the nature and form of Dracula-themed souvenirs. They include ubiquitous tourist objects such as fridge magnets, clothing, and drinks. Other commonly sold objects are those which are imitative of traditional Romanian handicrafts but which are mass-produced apparently outside Romania. To these have been added a whole range of generic horror souvenirs, again produced outside the country. These objects are frequently derided (both inside and outside Romania) as ‘kitsch’ but, for tourists, the authenticity or provenance of such souvenirs is of little relevance. Instead, the fact that they were acquired in Transylvania is enough to authenticate them as magical objects and forge a connection with a place that has special resonance for them.

Source: Manual