World Dracula Day is celebrateed every year on May 26, marking the anniversary of the publication of Bram Stoker's iconic gothic horror novel Dracula. Published in 1897, Dracula tells the story of Jonathan Harker, a businessman taking a trip to Transylvania to visit the mysterious Count Dracula, the archetypal vampire. The novel has since captured the imaginations of readers around the world and become a cornerstone of vampire lore in literature, film and pop culture.

Set in Victorian England, with a rich backdrop of gothic aesthetics, Dracula is a story that has most definitely inspired Alchemy England's gothic collections of jewelry, homeware and clothing. Indeed, bats feature heavily throughout Alchemy's product range, and are one of the forms that the Count is known for shapeshifting into. Hanging from a split chain and expertly handcrafted in fine English pewter, Alchemy's Gothic Bat Necklace is a bestselling piece. The necklace is the quintessential symbol of gothic darkness, depicting a swooping bat in full flight, with spreadeagled wing.

As part of the Alchemy Apparel Division, Alchemy has also collaborated with Hammer House of Horror for a special limited edition clothing and headwear capsule in celebration of Hammer's 90th anniversary. The collaboration merges the worlds of alternative lifestyle and classic British horror, giving fans an opportunity to own a piece of cinematic history, including Hammer's 1958 Dracula movie. With over 20 designs to choose from, Dracula features on the Horror of Dracula Hoodie, the Thirst for Blood T-Shirt, the Prince of Darkness Long Sleeve T-Shirt and Prince of Darkness Trucker Cap.

Among the main protagonists in Bram Stoker's novel is the Dutch doctor, vampire slayer, and arch-nemesis of Count Dracula, Professor Abraham Van Helsing. Alchemy pays tribute to Van Helsing with the striking handcrafted Vampyre Knife Pendant. An 1830's inverted and stylised variant of the frontiersman's Bowie fighting knife, this was said to have been used extensively by vampire hunters such as Van Helsing, throughout central Europe during The Terror. Constructed using an antiqued English pewter, the pendant features a stylized bat wing blade and skull detailed pommel.

Count Dracula is also known to transform into a great wolf, creatures known for being primal predators in vampire folklore, especially in Eastern Europe. Much like bats, wolves are also a feature throughout Alchemy's collection of jewelry and homeware, including rings, pendants, earrings and candlestick holders. Alchemy's Howl Stud Earring features a sullen, skulking lone wolf, awaiting a full moon for freedom from restraint. Perfect for an ear with multiple piercings, this enchanting ear piece features a crescent moon symbolically linked to a howling wolf by a delicate chain.

Following the publication of Dracula, other vampire stories followed, including the 1922 silent German Expressionist vampire film, Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror. The film was actually an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel and various names and other details were changed, including Count Dracula being renamed Count Orlok. You can now own your very own Nosferatu with Alchemy's Nosferatu's Rest Casket & Figure. The bone coloured resin figurine can be removed from his decorative coffin, which can then be used as a perfect place to store your special trinkets and treasures.

The cultural heritage of Bram Stoker's Dracula cannot be underestimated and neither can its vast influence on wider gothic culture. World Dracula Day is a perfect moment to embrace the drama and timeless styles associated with the vampire mythos, especially for lovers of gothic jewelry, decor and fashion. Celebrating World Dracula Day can be a delightfully dark affair, from revisiting the novel to watching the many film adaptations, including the fantastic 1992 movie, Bram Stoker's Dracula. So dress the part, transform your home into a gothic heaven and throw a delightfully decadent Dracula Day gathering.

Explore more vampire jewelry, homeware and clothing on our World Dracula Day page »