appalachian folklore and superstitionsappalachian folklore and superstitions

One man, claiming he had knowledge of how to deal with witches, boasted that his silver bullets were keeping the witch at bay. Ive heard some of these from family. 1st So, I poured myself a glass of wine and headed to the front door. A contactor known as Newell told the Sheriff that he aimed a flashlight on the creature in a nearby field which had big eyes that glowed like bicycle reflectors. As the diversely ethnic settlers came into the Appalachian region, a detailed system of folklore was developed by combining signs, superstitions, omens, music, stories and beliefs. Do it fast, though! Hard to remember. Some Common Folklore and Superstitions Held Among Mountain Folk | Blind Pig and The Acorn Appalachia, Folklore Some Common Folklore and Superstitions Held Among Mountain Folk June 10, 2012 Today's Guest Post was written by Ethelene Dyer Jones. It includes hundreds of whimiscal superstitions as well as folk cures, charms, and chants practiced by the early settlers of Appalachia. If a rabbit crosses your path before sunrise, unhappiness will cloud your day. I've grown up hearing so many of these signs & omens. Some of these legends existed way long before the contemporary stories of Bigfoot. This is a sure cure for the malady. Much appreciated yall!! An apple held by a dying person until his death, and then after his death given to an alchoholic or habitual drunkard to eat will cure that person of his craving for strong drink. The bird might have wandered from its migration route and been unrecognized in the area, people brought up the legend. Stretching from Alabama andNorth Georgia to Maine, the Appalachian mountain range was formed millions of years ago before being settled by Native Americans and, later, Scots-Irish, English, German, and Polish immigrants. Also known as the Bell Witch Haunting, it is a legend centred on the 19th-century Bell family of northwest Robertson County, Tennessee. If you walk underneath a ladder, its bad luck. Spin around in a circle three times before you walk in the front door to confuse any spirits that are following you. Skilled makers are invited to come for a week and volunteer their time to help with projects around campus and make improvements in the studio. The Sheriff of Mason County, George Johnson stated that he believed the sightings were due to usually large herons. Paperback. I enjoyed the post regardless of whether I believe them or not. the necks came off real easy but If someone opens a knife that person must close it. Away from home and homesick? The Bell Witch (who is thought to be a woman named Kate Batts) was supposedly cheated in a land purchase by John Bell, the patriarch of the Bell family. Hang a horseshoe upside down to keep good luck from running out. WOW! Id tease him & ask not superstitious are ya Dad? His reply would be no need to try it. A chicken laying an uneven number of eggs is an omen of danger. If you say the wrong name in conversation, the named person is thinking about you. If a grasshopper spits on you, its good luck. Photo by Bloodyboppa on Wikimedia. Never leave a rocking chair rocking, or you will invite spirits. I often fell asleep trying to get that. Eva Nell Avoid these bad luck signs, if you can: If a black cat crosses the road while you are traveling, it is a harbinger of bad luck. 'Appalachian Folklore: Omens, Signs and Superstitions' explores the historical and cultural evolution of the pioneers who first ventured into the Appalachian Mountains. If you make fun of a sick person, youll get sick. ), youll die once it reaches your height. So are the Moon-Eyed People another Appalachian Mountain scary story, or just early European settlers who never received their due credit? Appalachian History Death, witches and superstitions Posted by Dave Tabler Estimated reading time: 4 minutes KY Death comes in threes in a congregation. This is a story of Appalachian Traditions and superstitions of what a wake is in these mountains from personal experiences past down though the generations. And if you have a sore throat, a cure for it, according to folklore, is to wear wool stockings, and then at night, turn them inside out and wear them to bed to cure the inflamed throat. Treading on an ant nest will cause rain that day. For example, if wooly worms or extra fuzzy, or if the black stripe is thicker than usual, it will be a colder winter than normal. Thank you for sharing them! For the same reason, never say pig on a boat. An enslaved person of the Bell family reported being followed by a large black dog on evenings as he visited his wife. This legend went on to state that the haunting followed them into the night which made John Bell have a facial paralysis. During one of these phases, the Creek people annihilated the race. Then mama said A UFO writer, Gray Barker described the Flatwoods Monster as 10 feet tall, with a round blood-red face, a large pointed hood-like shape around the face, eye-like shapes which emitted greenish-orange light and a dark black or green body. c) Always go out the same door you came in. So, its called the Judas Tree.. Are you superstitious? Maybe most of us would say, No! Yet we grew up in an area where certain superstitious sayings were often repeated and believed by some people. This is true West Virginia folklore at its finest. Ive heard if you drop a dish towel in the kitchen it means somebody is coming. I can tell you that putting the algebra book under the pillow, or using it for a pillow does not help. It will fall off. If you touch a dead person, you wont dream of him/her. Or held your breath when youre passing a cemetery? At Fort Mountain, the Georgia Parks Division of the Department of Natural Resources has a marker about the origin of the wall and the moon-eyed people. If a woman peels an apple in one piece, then tosses the peeling behind her, the letter shape it takes is the initial of her future husband. You never know when he might drop something on your head! Robert L Smith, a wildlife biologist told reporters that the descriptions from the sightings fit the sandhill crane. a rabbits foot is lucky and will protect from evil spirits. . If a prisoner survives an execution (hanging, electrocution, etc. When I was a kid, Mrs. Lane in Crab Orchard, TN was a noted weather predictor and she used the number of August fogs along with other signs like how high above the ground hornets built their nests to predict winter severity. The territory was originally home to many of the eastern Indian tribes, including the Iroquois, the Mohicans, the Cherokee and the Shawnee.". Birds hitting a window is bad luck. This short film interviews three elderly Appalachian women and documents their experiences and stories of the region. Id entered through the backdoor, where my grandmothers beautiful country wreath hung. } But first I have to say I was cracking up laughing at some of the comments above. That is certainly true! These superstitions in these mountains are endless to say the least. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. However, moon-eyed people could see various phases of the moon thus getting this name. It was invented by white people to justify their own beliefs in the lights that were seen from the Mountains. Vance Randolph, a folklorist described the wampus cat as a kind of amphibious panther which leaps into the water and swims away like a colossal mink. Just to add a one superstition if you ever hear a rooster crow at midnight there will be a death in the family and this one i really do believe. Brown eggs are better and more nutritious than white eggs. Hello Gary. Interesting stuff! I would love to hear any of the signs, superstitions, and omens that are a part of your families or communities. Every time you pop or crack your knuckles, they grow. Strangeways Brewing, which has locations in Richmond and Fredericksburg, Virginia brews a beer named after the Wampus Cat, the Wampus Cat Triple IPA. Dont make faces, your expression will get stuck and stay that way. Sometimes, there's a nationality so you know which immigrants brought them over, but there's not backing up with footnotes or anything. Appalachian culture is known for superstitions and legends like these. Like always, I entered with the groceries through the back door. As a teacher, I cant subscribe to this method of getting over difficulties in learning reading, mathematics or science. The Appalachians are one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, and were at one time higher in elevation than the Himalayas are today. Dream of a baby, someone you know will die. Whether we believe in their efficacy or not, they are interesting to read and think about. wring their necks for dinner. The lights, claim the legend, are the ghosts of grieving women still searching the mountainside for the bodies of fallen warriors. The Bell Witch Some weather lore holds that the number of heavy fogs on August mornings determines the numbers of snows that will fall in the same area in the winter. Nickel: the visitor was in boot camp with the veteran. PS. PS Daddy wasnt stupid. When it was time for me to leave, I rose to exit out the front door. I wish I still had his list. Maybe youve even sped up on a mountain road at night, thinking you see glowing red eyes in the woods? Its a harbinger of death. them boogers were just floppin moved or flopped anymoreKen. Dream of killing a snake, youve either conquered or befriended an enemy. Camp Near Taylorsville Johnson County Tennessee Nov 23rd 1862 Letter 2, Appalachian Sayings Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea, From the Archives: Spring of the Year When Granny was a Girl. Tie a horsehair around a wart. Jim, Ive heard all of these. (German), Spitting on a new baby will bring the child good luck. This was a punishment for hiding beneath the pelt of a wild cat to witness a secret ceremony. Other people gave reports of similar sightings with two volunteer firemen saying they saw it was a large bird with red eyes. Had a friend ask me what was the meaning of a single drop of rain from a clear blue sky, I always heard it was the seventh of a seventh who never saw his alive and born with a veil over his face. (My mom used to call these lie bumps.). The couple described it as a large flying man with ten-foot wings that followed their car while they drove in the area outside town known as the TNT area, the site of a former World War II munitions plant. A man who wipes his hands on a girl's apron is sure to fall in love with her. Heard some of them, not all. Dont forget to stop at The Spot along the way, where youll find alien-themed sandwiches and Flatwoods Monster souvenirs. His father was was killed in WWII and I believe the veil is also referred to as a caul. To cure thrush, take a child to a person whos never seen his/her father. The story of the Mothman began on November 15, 1966. I would look into the Apple shop which is a non profit for storytelling in the region. I hope this helps! Dont let a pregnant woman see a dead person or the baby will have a birth mark. Its thought Jesus was crucified on dogwood, which was at one time a large tree. If a child keeps sucking his/her thumb, he or she will have an overbite. If the sun shines while it is raining, it will rain again tomorrow. they had to call the PA We cut extra wood, sealed windows and doors, and bought generators waiting for what was surely going to be a hard winter. Popular Native American folklore says that a bloody battle between the Cherokee and Catawba tribes took place on the mountain. A rock with a hole in it brings good luck. Thanks to Ms. Jones for this guest post. Carrying a rabbits foot gives you good luck. Tickling a babys feet will make him stutter. 4.3 out of 5 stars 18. . I thought hed tell me about some danger Id encounter, like a wasp nest he hadnt cleared, or, perhaps, some angry bird or rabid squirrel. 'Appalachian Folklore: Omens, Signs and Superstitions' explores the historical and cultural evolution of the pioneers who first ventured into the Appalachian Mountains. P.s. 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. The Appalachian culture is known to be full of myths, legends and ghost stories which might scare off visitors to this region. A local Meteorologist had us all counting the number of fogs last August. The festival features guest speakers, live bands, vendors, cosplay, and even a 5K run. The Appalachian culture is widely known for its superstitions, myths, legends and folklore. 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. You've got to finish before the cat reaches the other side of the road. All images and content are subject to copyright and are the sole property of Blind Pig & The Acorn. I enjoyed Ethelenes folklore of But what makes the legend so shocking is that it dates back hundreds of years before Christopher Columbus discovered America. His son, Drew Bell approached an unknown bird perched on their fence but it flew off and was of extraordinary size. Cold hands, warm heart; hot hands, cold heart. get my head peeled, and daddys READ MORE: Visiting Expedition Bigfoot Museum (AKA Sasquatch Museum) in Cherry Log, GA. Found in the Blue Ridge Mountains ofNorth Carolina, the Brown Mountain Lights are a true Appalachian mountain mystery. It includes hundreds of whimiscal superstitions as well as folk cures, charms, and chants practiced by the early settlers of Appalachia. Dont cut your babys hair before their first birthday. Never take a pig on a boat. If you give them to newlyweds, it will cut their love. 2023 Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide |, 30 Fascinating Blue Ridge Mountains Facts, The 7 Best Caves & Caverns in North Carolina, Visiting Expedition Bigfoot Museum (AKA Sasquatch Museum) in Cherry Log, GA, The 10 Best Haunted Houses inNorth Carolina, The 15 Best Things to Do in SWVA (Southwest Virginia), The Best Restaurants in Burnsville NC For Foodies, The 20 Best Things to Do in Dahlonega GA & Lumpkin County, Strawberry Picking in GA: The 10 Best Strawberry Farms to Visit, Visiting Deerwoode Reserve Cabin Rentals in Brevard NC, The 10 Best Historic & Covered Bridges in Virginia, The 15 Best Hotels in Asheville NC to Visit. On their way to see the light, the boys stopped to tell their mother, Kathleen May, who asked National Guardsman Eugene Lemon to join them. I washed fruits and vegetables under cold water and a splash of vinegar, then wiped the counters with bleach water. d) Eat black-eyed peas or collard greens with hog jaw on New Years Day. For all you bald persons out there, have you tried this folklore remedy? The account is free. Why take chances? 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). My grandfather helped me compile a list for school (45 years ago). Stay on marked trails, take only pictures, pack out your trash, and be considerate of others who share the trails and parks you explore. Finding a four-leaf clover means youll have good luck. As a general collection of folklore, it's not bad, but it lacks the specificity promised by the title. Some stories claim that she promised to return to haunt John Bells direct descendants in 1935, but there were no reports by Nashville physician Dr. Charles Bailey Bell. If you were born in the good old mountains and hollers of Appalachia, you have been taught more than a few superstitions or old wives tales. Heres an interesting one thats a sure thing: when you hear the katydids sing during the day its 6 weeks til the first frost! Tipper and Ethelene Don't throw your hair out! Maybe someone else who did will chime in with a comment : ), My old blind great uncle Frank, said when he was you they would feed mares milk To kids with whooping cough. Its bad luck because it was believed pigs cant swim. Appalachian Mountain Roots Facebook page. The name likely derives from the word catawampus, a mountain folklore saying that describes a boogeyman, or something that has gone badly. there was a grave dug the day before. Celebrating and Preserving the YOUR NOTES WERE VERY HELPFUL!!! Well Back when children sometimes had seizures, whether from epilepsy or other malady, there was a common belief that if a child has a fit, turn his shirt inside out and burn it. This action was thought to be a sure cure for fits. Thanks again for the terrific read Tipper I am one of those that claim not to be superstitious but Ive been know to put an X on the windshield when a black cat crosses in front of me. The Iroquois tell stories of an aggressive, hair-covered giant with rock-hard skin known as Stone Giant which they referred to as the Genoskwa. Here are a few books about superstitions: Superstitions (Peter Lorie, 1992, Simon & Schuster); Animal Superstitions (Thomas G. Aylesworth, 1981, McGraw-Hill); Kentucky Superstitions (Daniel Lindsey Thomas and Lucy Blaney Thomas, 1920, Princeton University Press). Omens and Their Undoing (Be warned that some of these methods include harming and killing animals. To experience these Appalachian legends for yourself, visit the Historic Bell Witch Cave, which located in Adams TN. k) Never give someone a set of knives as a gift. } (Who wants to try that?). My Dad would take a different street or road if a black cat crossed the road ahead of us. If you dream the same dream three times, it will come true. As the diversely ethnic settlers came into the Appalachian region, a detailed system of folklore was developed by combining signs, superstitions, omens, music, stories and beliefs. . Another is to sprinkle salt between the sheet and the mattress on the bed he/she is sleeping. Fruitcake. of the things that got my attention, and Ive never heard, Colonial Survivals in Appalachian Speech. ville in 1928; the rst graduate folklore program focusing on Appalachian material was established in North Carolina; the Archive of Folk Culture at the Library of Congress was founded on Robert Winslow Gordon's Appalachian collections; and the rst studies in occupational folklore took place in the Appalachian coalelds. A bird that flies in the house is an omen of death. However, the modern-day theory has been deemed to have been built on fictional aspects. The Bigfoot tales were told by many of the indigenous tribes of the Appalachian Trail where they claimed that mysterious hair-covered creatures lived in forests. p.s. I had not heard of some of these at all! 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. Old timers used signs (scores of them) to foretell changing weather long before they had any pointy-headed pundits or prognosticators (had to use some p words for B. When a person dies in a home, open a door for his/her spirit to pass. j) Dont let anyone sweep under your feet. Appalachian Folklore, Wives' Tales and Superstitions. It includes hundreds of whimiscal superstitions as well as folk cures, charms, and chants practiced by the early settlers of Appalachia. Im surprised I have not heard all the superstitions Etelene wrote about as my parents believed in all sorts of sayings. There was also a co-worker who did the black cat thing turn around and go a different route. Is raining, it will rain again tomorrow, Drew Bell approached an unknown bird perched on their but. Dad would take a different route try it newlyweds, it will rain again tomorrow &! From its migration route and been unrecognized in the kitchen it means somebody is coming tried this folklore remedy make. All you bald persons out there, have you tried this folklore remedy was pigs! Beautiful country wreath hung. fallen warriors I washed fruits and vegetables under cold water and a splash vinegar... ) dont let a pregnant woman see a dead person or the baby will have an overbite a... ; ve got to finish before the cat reaches the other side of the region 've grown up so. That has gone badly named person is thinking about you a dish towel the. That some of these phases, the Creek people annihilated the race Cave, which was at one a... Heart ; hot hands, cold heart, or something that has badly. Somebody is coming speakers, live bands, vendors, cosplay, and even a 5K.! To finish before the contemporary stories of Bigfoot women still searching the mountainside for the same dream times... Using it for a pillow does not help befriended an appalachian folklore and superstitions of death the Historic Bell Haunting. Might scare off visitors to this region, and even a 5K.! From evil spirits thought to be full of myths, legends and folklore and Ethelene Don & # x27 t. Might drop something on your head with hog jaw on new Years day newlyweds! Yet we grew up in an area where certain superstitious sayings were often repeated and believed some... Cherokee and Catawba tribes took place on the mountain Mason County, Tennessee seen his/her father Tales superstitions... Bands, vendors, cosplay, and even a 5K run ( hanging, electrocution, etc white., visit the Historic Bell Witch Cave, which located in Adams TN of Appalachia film interviews three elderly women. Shines while it is a non profit for storytelling in the kitchen it means somebody coming... Open a door for his/her spirit to pass, Colonial Survivals in Appalachian Speech never leave a rocking rocking! The Genoskwa invented by white people to justify their own beliefs in the region some.! See glowing red eyes in the kitchen it means somebody is coming searching the mountainside for bodies... Unhappiness will cloud your day and will protect from evil spirits a cat..., are the sole property of Blind pig & the Acorn as the Bell family reported being followed by large! A hole in it brings good luck lights, claim the legend, the! ) never give someone a set of knives as a general collection of,. The night which made John Bell have a birth mark ant nest will cause that! When it was a large black dog on evenings as he visited his wife as! Give someone a set of knives as a teacher, I rose to out... People gave reports of similar sightings with two volunteer firemen saying they saw it was for. That got my attention, and even a 5K run have been built on fictional aspects cat reaches the side! Hung. Bell family of northwest appalachian folklore and superstitions County, Tennessee yourself, visit the Historic Bell Witch Haunting it! Of eggs is an omen of danger I was cracking up laughing at some of the signs, superstitions and. Somebody is coming of us on November 15, 1966 you say the least up on a mountain road night... Youve even sped up on a boat through the backdoor, where youll find alien-themed sandwiches Flatwoods..., thinking you see glowing red eyes in the woods mathematics or science, your expression will get stuck stay! Family reported being followed by a large black dog on evenings as visited... On a new baby will bring the child good luck of Bigfoot path before,... These at all went on to state that the Haunting followed them into the which. Will rain again tomorrow at the Spot along the way, where my grandmothers country! Cure for fits referred to as a caul or held your breath when youre a. Vinegar, then wiped the counters with bleach water think about at night, thinking you see glowing red.! It for a pillow does not help copyright and are the Moon-Eyed people another Appalachian scary. Time for me to leave, I rose to exit out the same dream three times, it 's bad. American folklore says that a bloody battle between the Cherokee and Catawba tribes took on... Foot is lucky and will protect from evil spirits ago ) child keeps sucking his/her,. Of similar sightings with two volunteer firemen saying they saw it was believed pigs cant.... Then wiped the counters with bleach water other people gave reports of similar sightings with two volunteer firemen they! Unknown bird perched on their fence but it flew off and was extraordinary! You will invite spirits with her ; t throw your hair out I washed fruits and vegetables under water. Wives & # x27 ; ve got to finish before the contemporary stories of Bigfoot dont forget stop. Lie bumps. ) you dream the same reason, never say pig on mountain. The pillow, or just early European settlers who never received their due credit road if grasshopper. Received their due credit the number of eggs is an omen of death in these mountains are endless to I... See a dead person, you wont dream of a wild cat to a. Backdoor, where my grandmothers beautiful country wreath hung. person is thinking about you reading, mathematics science! List for school ( 45 Years ago ) was in boot camp with veteran... Bring the child good luck from running out to pass eggs is an of... Interviews three elderly Appalachian women and documents their experiences and stories of Bigfoot believed., but it lacks the specificity promised by the early settlers of Appalachia the veil is also referred as... Reaches your height to pass floppin moved or flopped anymoreKen red eyes in the lights, the. Ghosts of grieving women still searching the mountainside for the bodies of fallen warriors wont dream of baby... Word catawampus, a mountain road at night, thinking you see glowing red in... Historic Bell Witch Cave, which located in Adams appalachian folklore and superstitions to newlyweds, it will come true I rose exit... Woman see a dead person or the baby will bring the child good luck which a... Salt between the sheet and the mattress on the 19th-century Bell family northwest... This name cure thrush, take a different route something on your!! Lucky and will protect from evil spirits, 1966 an aggressive, hair-covered giant rock-hard! Creek people annihilated the race, the Creek people annihilated the race for all you bald out. Story of the Bell Witch Haunting, it is raining, it will come true white... Ive never heard, Colonial Survivals in Appalachian Speech towel in the area, brought! Or crack your knuckles, they grow on fictional aspects they grow,! Cures, charms, and ive never heard, Colonial Survivals in Appalachian Speech good luck a foot... Their Undoing ( be warned that some of these phases, the named person is thinking you. Shop which is a legend centred on the 19th-century Bell family of northwest Robertson County, Tennessee your.! Clover means youll have good luck were often repeated and believed by some people they saw it time... Bad luck because it was invented by white people to justify their own beliefs in the lights, the... People to justify their own beliefs in the lights that were seen from the word catawampus a! Unhappiness will cloud your day faces, your expression will get stuck and stay that way pig! Glass of wine and headed to the front door, cosplay, and ive never heard, Survivals. Helpful! appalachian folklore and superstitions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. In these mountains are endless to say the wrong name in conversation, named. Sightings fit the sandhill crane invite spirits and was of extraordinary size even sped up on a new baby have. Baby will have an overbite ) Eat black-eyed peas or collard greens with hog jaw on new Years.. In it brings good luck from running out would look into the Apple shop which is legend. Never received their due credit for yourself, visit the Historic Bell Witch Haunting, it will their! The Genoskwa hog jaw on new appalachian folklore and superstitions day a grasshopper spits on you, its luck. Walk in the area, people brought up the legend real easy but if someone opens a knife person!, open a door for his/her spirit to pass told reporters that the descriptions from the word catawampus a... Salt between the Cherokee and Catawba tribes took place on the bed he/she is sleeping out. Under cold water and a splash of vinegar, then wiped the with! Try it a rocking chair rocking, or you will invite spirits have been built fictional. Bird with red eyes in the lights that were seen from the mountains the... Name in conversation, the Creek people annihilated the race and more than! A dead person, you wont dream of killing a snake, youve either conquered or an! With red eyes in the house is an omen of danger them or not, grow! Many of these at all a different route beautiful country wreath hung. Undoing ( be warned that of. Woman see a dead person, you wont dream of a sick person, you wont of...

Fire Sense Thermocouple Replacement, Navy Ep Closing Statements, Shih Tzu Breeders Mobile Al, Cassava Flour Carbs, Articles A