Vampires are mythological or folkloric revenants that are said to subsist by feeding on the blood of the living. In folklore, vampires were often described as bloated and ruddy or dark in appearance. Belief in vampires was common in many cultures but the term "vampire" became popularized in the 18th century in Western Europe, spreading from Eastern Europe and the Balkans. This led to mass hysteria and dead bodies sometimes being staked. Modern conceptions generally view vampires as fictional but some folkloric beliefs still exist in some cultures.