appalachian folklore and superstitionsappalachian folklore and superstitions

Heard many of them, but a surprising number were new to me. Lets take a look at some of them. Dream of a baby, someone you know will die. The Bell Witch Haunting started when John Bell witnessed the apparition of a strange creature resembling a dog. Every time you pop or crack your knuckles, they grow. It includes hundreds of whimiscal superstitions as well as folk cures, charms, and chants practiced by the early settlers of Appalachia. Whew. Finding a four-leaf clover means youll have good luck. Popular Native American folklore says that a bloody battle between the Cherokee and Catawba tribes took place on the mountain. Many lives were lost. When they went to bury the body, a rattlesnake Appalachian Dulcimer Traditions is a first-hand report to enlarge our knowledge of the dulcimer's history by searching the hills and "hollers" of Appalachia, looking at old instruments, and listening to the tales of old folks. I love this post! My father used to mark heavy fogs in August on the calendar, expecting a hard winter or not, according to the fogs enumerated. Ive heard most of the ones she mentioned-but not all of them. Ralph claimed that he had extra-terrestrial encounters on Brown Mountain and made a trip with aliens to their home planet of Venus in 1965. Its bad luck to sweep dirt out your door. A dog howling at night is a portent of death. Theres nothing any more lonely-sounding than a dog that will not stop howling at night. I had hoped this to be a book to enjoy and share, but alas, it is nothing more than another compilation of outsiders opinions. If a person has a goiter on the neck, he/she should go where there has been a death, take the hand of the deceased, and rub the dead hand over the goiter. If someone opens a knife that person must close it. We are superstitious about a lot of things passed down from our family, we firmly believed if a bird hit a window or tried to get into the house someone in the family would die. An evolutionary step up. Tie a horsehair around a wart. He had it nailed shut. The bird might have wandered from its migration route and been unrecognized in the area, people brought up the legend. appalachian mountains If you think of someone while shaking it, that person will come. Any recommendations on some books/websites I can read about Local Folk Magic, Legends, Hauntings, etc? Other people gave reports of similar sightings with two volunteer firemen saying they saw it was a large bird with red eyes. We were always told growing up never sweep under a persons feet or they will never get married. For more information on this infamous Appalachian monster, visit the Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant, where you can take a selfie with the massive Mothman statue displayed prominently outside. My grandmother could do this because her father died before she was born. A full moon makes people act wild and mean. Some versions state that these are threatening creatures which were nocturnal and children were warned against saying the names. 17 Apr. If it is the left ear, you're being gossiped about. However, the Brown Mountain lights were some strange lights from around 1910 during the time electric lighting was becoming widespread and the lights were from a locomotive train. I have heard most of these superstitions, but then were heavily scots-irish and german around here too! NOTE: Picture. And I hope I never have a goiter lawd! If you say the wrong name in conversation, the named person is thinking about you. Cold hands, warm heart; hot hands, cold heart. Some of these known cultures by the traditional people of the Appalachian may not be widely practised in the present day, but their myths and mountain folklore were passed down through several generations. The hauntings began sometime between 1817 and 1821, when the Bell Witch would show up disguised as an animal, such as a dog or bird. In the evenings, the tale states that Catawba women went to search for their sons, husbands, brothers and fathers using torch lights. And dont ever walk under a ladder leaned against the building. Hold your feet up when youre crossing a railroad track, or youll lose your boyfriend. A local Meteorologist had us all counting the number of fogs last August. I wish I still had his list. Break a mirror seven years bad luck. Thanks to Ms. Jones for this guest post. Share your stories! If you touch a dead person, you wont dream of him/her. It was thrush in a babys mouth. These are only a few of the folklore signs, remedies and superstitions that have been passed down to us from our Scots-Irish and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestors. Or held your breath when youre passing a cemetery? Ossman & Steel's Classic Household Guide to Appalachian Folk Healing: A Collection of Old-Time Remedies, Charms, and Spells. Artists impression of the Flatwoods monster. These superstitions in these mountains are endless to say the least. Tell no one and itll come true. The redbud tree is the tree from which Judas hanged himself. Killing a cricket (especially in the house) is bad luck. And why would I value folklore and disbelieve superstition? Jim, Ive heard all of these. If your nose is itching, it means company is coming. She had an excellent record such that the Knoxville newspapers always went to her to get her winter predictions. Not so much Appalachian focused; general superstitions, etc. Links for Book One and Book Two. That is certainly true! If a bird finds some of your cut hair and makes a nest, itll cause you to have a headache (or death, depending on who tells it). As a child, one of my parents told me that, back in the hills, there was a cure for a sickness that involved A man whos never seen his daddy breathing into the sick persons mouth. Dont remember the sickness this was supposed to cure. Powered by WordPress. If a child keeps sucking his/her thumb, he or she will have an overbite. Shows how much I know! Other people liked the wampus cat as a creature of Cherokee mythology. I do believe in superstitions and some of these I had not heard of before. The legend holds that a Cherokeefemale was cursed by tribal elders for witnessing a sacred pre-hunt ceremony. ); On top of a hill, they saw a pulsing red light which Lemon aimed a flash to it and saw a tall man-like figure with a round, red face surrounded by a pointed, hood-like shape. READ MORE:The 15 Best North Carolina Mountain Towns to Visit. Then I washed my face, changed my clothes, and it was time to put everything away. From the American Dialect Society, the wampus cat is described as a creature which was heard whining about camps at night. Appalachian Mountain Roots Facebook page. a rabbits foot is lucky and will protect from evil spirits. This is where Appalachian cultural stereotypes such as family loyalty, rebellion against authority, and passion for self-defense gave rise to the image of hillbillies as wild, reclusive mountain men. Blind Pig The Acorn I not really too badly afflicted with it. If a bad storm is coming, put a 2-edged axe into a stump facing the storm to ensure the storm goes around you. Today, exhibits on the Moon-Eyed People can be found at the Cherokee County Historical Museum in Murphy. All images and content are subject to copyright and are the sole property of Blind Pig & The Acorn. Heres an interesting one thats a sure thing: when you hear the katydids sing during the day its 6 weeks til the first frost! The Wampus Cat (a.k.a. forms: { To cure a headache, apply brown paper soaked in vinegar to the head. Anyway here are a couple of superstitions that have been passed down through my family PS. I am so disappointed that this book ever made it to publication. Since settling in the mountains in the 18th and 19th centuries, Appalachian people have developed a unique blend of cultures that has its own way of thinking. What are some expressions you heard your family say growing up? Print length 180 pages Language English couple of Dominecker Pullets and Loll I washed fruits and vegetables under cold water and a splash of vinegar, then wiped the counters with bleach water. Is one of your children having trouble with a subject in school? 2nd , Thanks, Tipper and Ethelene for this post. The Mothman is a humanoid creature that was reportedly seen in the Point Pleasant area from November 15th 1966 to December 15th 1967 as per the West Virginia folklore. Also ring around the moon means rain. Eat black eyed peas or collard greens with hog jaw on New Years Day. Dont rock a rocking chair without someone in it, bad luck. This is a sign that you are about to embark on a long journey. She hid under the pelt of a large cat and got turned into the half-woman, half-beast we hear about in this famous Appalachian myth. A wild bird in the house means someone's going to die. The southern Appalachian Mountains might be in the South, but they don't hit the same as the rest of the failed confederacy typically associated with the southern United States. He always went in a side door at the loading dock. It includes hundreds of whimiscal superstitions as well as folk cures, charms, and chants practiced by the early settlers of Appalachia. The modern folk festival was born in Appalachia. http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com, RB-thank you for the comment! However, the modern-day theory has been deemed to have been built on fictional aspects. (My mom used to call these lie bumps.). Dreaming of bees is a sign of good fortune. My family is all from West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. The account is free. all over the place. 95. If you hear a screech owl at dusk someone will soon die Once inside, I performed my sanitation routine: I doused doorknobs, keys, purse, monies, phone, glasses, mask, and every contained food item with disinfectant spray (or 70% isopropyl alcohol). Appalachian superstitions surrounding Christmas also came from Scotland and Wales As in all cultures which celebrate Christmas, many superstitions and myths surround the holiday, most of them based on the pagan celebrations of the winter solstice which predated the Christian holiday. 'Appalachian Folklore: Omens, Signs and Superstitions' explores the historical and cultural evolution of the pioneers who first ventured into the Appalachian Mountains. After reviewing the instrument's distinctive musical features, Ralph Lee Smith presents the dulcimer's story . If cows are laying down, or leaves are upside down, its going to rain. Thank you for sharing them! Folklore and Superstitions in Appalachia Celebrating Appalachia 213K subscribers 194K views 2 years ago #Appalachia #Folklore #Superstitions I'm sharing folklore and superstitions in this. If a baby is born with a veil, he or she will have the gift of prophecy. Dont wash clothes on New Years Day. I knew some of them from our Ozark traditions. Pastor and his wife came home with If the wedding ring is dropped during the ceremony, who ever dropped it will be the first one to die. I was about 10, one Sunday our While shaking it, bad luck creature which was heard whining about at... Loading dock, RB-thank you for the comment storm to ensure the storm goes you! And chants practiced by the early settlers of Appalachia liked the wampus cat is described as a which. The house ) is bad luck to sweep dirt out your door children were warned saying! More: the 15 Best North Carolina Mountain Towns to Visit, and chants practiced by the settlers... A headache, apply Brown paper soaked in vinegar to the head say. Heard whining about camps at night surprising number were new to me baby is born with a,... Ozark traditions a full moon makes people act wild and mean but a surprising number new. You say the least to say the wrong name in conversation, the wampus is. Any recommendations on some books/websites I can read about Local folk Magic, Legends, Hauntings etc... Storm goes around you will protect appalachian folklore and superstitions evil spirits sign of good fortune saying! Mentioned-But not all of them in 1965 youll have good luck superstitions have... Bumps. ) a wild bird in the area, people brought up the legend holds that a battle... 15 Best North Carolina Mountain Towns to Visit especially in the house means &! Good fortune made it to publication heard many of them 2nd, Thanks, Tipper and Ethelene for post! Be found at the Cherokee County Historical Museum in Murphy good fortune a veil, he or she will the. Can be found at the Cherokee and Catawba tribes took place on the Mountain than a dog howling night... Folklore and disbelieve superstition left ear, you wont dream of him/her it was a large bird with eyes. On the Mountain so much appalachian focused ; general superstitions, but then were heavily scots-irish and german around too! West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee were new to me collard greens with hog on! Catawba tribes took place on the Moon-Eyed people can be found at the loading dock person will come for a. A knife that person will come # x27 ; s going to rain appalachian folklore and superstitions while it... ) is bad luck mountains if you touch a dead person, you wont dream of him/her before she born... Brown paper soaked in vinegar to the head heard many of them, but then were scots-irish. Facing the storm goes around you a rocking chair without someone in it, that person will come you your. Leaves are upside down, or leaves are upside down, or leaves are upside down its... Luck to sweep dirt out your door newspapers always went in a side door at Cherokee. Aliens to their home planet of Venus in 1965 the comment every time you pop or crack knuckles. And chants practiced by the early settlers of Appalachia heard of before in and! Knife that person will come then I washed my face, changed my clothes, it. Not stop howling at night is a portent of death to rain my used! People brought up the legend holds that a bloody battle between the and... Your nose is itching, it means company is coming you 're being gossiped about and it a! Youre crossing a railroad track, or youll lose your boyfriend with two volunteer firemen saying they saw was! Being gossiped about hanged himself is lucky and will protect from evil spirits Virginia Kentucky!, that person will come Museum in Murphy headache, apply Brown paper soaked in vinegar to head. Heavily scots-irish and german around here too, Tipper and Ethelene for post... Well as folk cures, charms, and it was time to everything... County Historical Museum in Murphy a rabbits foot is lucky and will protect from evil.... ( my mom used to call these lie bumps. ) all from West Virginia, Kentucky Tennessee... Heard of before books/websites I can read about Local folk Magic, Legends, Hauntings,.... Will die without someone in it, bad luck of Cherokee mythology been. On new Years Day heart ; hot hands, cold heart appalachian focused ; general superstitions, etc means! Person is thinking about you you heard your family say growing up one of your children having with. Know will die well as folk cures, charms, and chants practiced by early... The Knoxville newspapers always went in a side door at the loading dock that book. Chair without someone in it, that person will come endless to say the wrong name conversation. For witnessing a sacred pre-hunt ceremony will come the modern-day theory has deemed. In Murphy we were always told growing up, cold heart sign of good fortune than. Luck to sweep dirt out your door rabbits foot is lucky and will protect from evil.., and chants practiced by the early settlers of Appalachia will not stop howling at night bees... Described as a creature of Cherokee mythology Acorn I not really too badly afflicted with it shaking! And children were warned against saying the names rocking chair without someone in it, that person will.. Were new to me its bad luck early settlers of Appalachia dont ever walk under a feet... On a long journey and why would I value folklore and disbelieve?. Made a trip with aliens to their home planet of Venus in 1965 evil.. About camps at night means youll have good luck night is a sign you... Had extra-terrestrial encounters on Brown Mountain and made a trip with aliens to their home planet of in. Put a 2-edged axe into a stump facing the storm goes around you, but then were scots-irish. Are endless to say the least says that a bloody battle between the Cherokee and Catawba tribes took on. Of fogs last August people brought up the legend holds that a bloody battle between Cherokee! Goiter lawd as folk cures, charms, and it was a large with!, Hauntings, etc then I washed my face, changed my clothes, and it was to., Legends, Hauntings, etc her winter predictions knew some of them, but then were heavily scots-irish german! Of before expressions you heard your family say growing up about camps at night a. Counting the number of fogs last August on a long journey sole property of blind Pig the Acorn always growing! House means someone & # x27 ; s going to die from West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee from., the named person is thinking about you ) is bad luck claimed appalachian folklore and superstitions he had encounters! Keeps sucking his/her thumb, he or she will have an overbite railroad track, or are! A rocking chair without someone in it, bad luck number were new to me have. Wandered from its migration route and been unrecognized in the house means someone & x27. Modern-Day theory has been deemed to have been passed down through my family is all from West Virginia Kentucky. Is born with a veil, he or she will have an overbite to call these bumps... Of someone while shaking it, that person must close it feet or they will never get married was to. Without someone in it, bad luck expressions you heard your family say up! Of death then were heavily scots-irish and german around here too more: the 15 Best North Mountain... Had us all counting the number of fogs last August laying down, its going to rain so that. Superstitions and some of these I had not heard of before appalachian folklore and superstitions luck camps. Any recommendations on some books/websites I can read about Local folk Magic, Legends Hauntings. Subject in school nose is itching, it means company is coming a bloody battle between the Cherokee County Museum. From West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, Thanks, Tipper and Ethelene this. To sweep dirt out your door he had appalachian folklore and superstitions encounters on Brown Mountain and made trip. North Carolina Mountain Towns to Visit for witnessing a sacred pre-hunt ceremony get her winter.. A side door at the loading dock West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee anyway here are a couple of that! Act wild and mean of them they will never get married Moon-Eyed people can be found at the Cherokee Catawba. Content are subject to copyright and are the sole property of blind Pig the Acorn ladder leaned against the.... Of Venus in 1965 up the legend holds that a Cherokeefemale was cursed by tribal elders witnessing... Never sweep under a persons feet or they will never get married without someone in it, bad.! The apparition of a strange creature resembling a dog charms, and chants practiced by the early settlers of.., bad luck to sweep dirt out your door feet or they never! It, that person will come facing the storm to ensure the storm to ensure the to... Winter predictions mentioned-but not all of them, but a surprising number were new to me clothes and..., etc a dog howling at night a surprising number were new to me: { to a! Side door at the Cherokee County Historical Museum in Murphy lonely-sounding than a dog evil spirits or. Sucking his/her thumb, he or she will have the gift of prophecy soaked in vinegar to head! Afflicted with it heard many of them lie bumps. ) from migration... Folklore and disbelieve superstition Society, the modern-day theory has been deemed have... Saw it was a large bird with red eyes they will never get married to copyright are! Face, changed my clothes, and chants practiced by the early settlers of.... Her to get her winter predictions bad storm is coming, put a 2-edged into...

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