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. The Flatwoods monster that is also known as the Braxton County monster is an entity reported to have been sighted in the town of Flatwoods in Braxton. Better safe than sorry, right? Pink sky at nite sailor delight. Thank you Ethelene, for a great post! Many claim that the lights seen today are the spirits of the Catawba women, still searching for their loved ones. Typically associated with the small town of Murphy NC, the Moon-Eyed People are short, stout, and white-skinned, withbearded faces and large blue eyes. I had high hopes for this but was underwhelmed. 6. My grand parents raised me and this is what she used to tell me, Sharon-no I never hear that one. When they went to bury the body, a rattlesnake This years festival falls on September 17 and 18, 2022. It includes hundreds of whimiscal superstitions as well as folk cures, charms, and chants practiced by the early settlers of Appalachia. 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. At this annual festival you can expect educational panels, a Bigfoot calling contest, a costume contest, and Bigfoot-themed dishes. Appalachian death superstitions involve household objects as well. If you spill salt, throw a pinch over your left shoulder so you wont have bad luck. Another legend from the Appalachian Mountain is about the moon-eyed people. If you drop a dish rag, youll have company. 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. Culture of Appalachia Sounds like youre between the devil and the deep blue sea., Do you stake your tomatoes? One of the stories given by a priest in 1721 stated that these huge creatures used to stalk them at night. Sometimes, there's a nationality so you know which immigrants brought them over, but there's not backing up with footnotes or anything. I have not had them around to pass down the stories, not that they would as they are a very religious bunch, mostly. Ive heard some of these from family. Therefore, many ghost stories, songs, superstitions, and folk remedies considered "Appalachian folklore" can actually be traced back to places like Scotland or Ireland. Pink sky in the morning sailor take warning. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a287555a6a3a090c63bff0669473fbc2" );document.getElementById("jb1fe6f8fb").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. 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. Heard some of them, not all. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { If you see a black cat crossing the road in front of you, draw an X in the air three times to void the bad luck. Whatever you do on New Years, youll do every day of the year. It is a really good contemporary version of Appalachian folklore. The Stsailes people usually tell stories about Bigfoot that is a shape-shifting creature that protects the forest. on: function(evt, cb) { Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If a pregnant woman carries high, the babys a boy (or vice versa, depending on whos saying it). Appalachia Bare. Animals with heavy fur growth in autumn indicates a bad winter. Fort Mountain, a Georgia State Park near Ellijay GA, contains the ruins of an 850-foot-long stone wall that is said to have been constructed by the mysterious tribe. Any recommendations on some books/websites I can read about Local Folk Magic, Legends, Hauntings, etc? Share your stories! Calling out the name of a deceased person while dreaming is an omen of a death. 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. Dream of killing a snake, youve either conquered or befriended an enemy. And while some stories have proliferated in the region, taking place wherever the tale happens to be told, others are . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Designed using Nevark Premium. Some Common Folklore and Superstitions Held Among Mountain Folk written by Ethelene Dyer Jones I hope you enjoyed Ethelenes post as much as I did! WOW! 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. 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. Feel free to share in the comments section below or you can send me a message on the, *This post was originally published here on Appalachian Mountain Roots on 9/20/16.*. Like always, I entered with the groceries through the back door. If your right palm itches, youll lose money. If you spill salt, its bad luck. ways and make an X and put the 4.3 out of 5 stars 18. . When they arrived at the site of the lights crash, they saw a pulsing red light and a 10-foot-tall creature with twisted hands and a glowing green face that seemed to levitate off the ground. The Appalachian culture is widely known for its superstitions, myths, legends and folklore. Hold your feet up when youre crossing a railroad track, or youll lose your boyfriend. In folklore, it was a spiritual green-eyed cat which had occult powers or sometimes was taken as an undefined imaginary animal. Heard many of them, but a surprising number were new to me. Shows how much I know! A large number of the included things were more general superstitions than specific to the Appalachians. If you go outside with wet hair, youll get sick. 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. <><, Has anyone ever heard not to stand a broom upright? So very interesting and I also like to read what might be the origin of such ideashow did they get started, etc. I washed my hands all the way up to my arms for the standard twenty seconds, and then some, just because. I wonder, has anyone seen this happen? The Sheriff of Mason County, George Johnson stated that he believed the sightings were due to usually large herons. When trees leaves turn backward, rain will soon come. Wonderful post thanks, Ethelene! Angie-thank you for the comment! Never been much on superstitions but have some interest in folk lore. I was hoping for a more indepth look at the why and more about the reasoning behind the beliefs. Wonder what that means? The seventh daughter of the seventh daughter or the seventh son of the seventh son will be a healer, fortune teller, preacher, or prophet. If a pregnant woman craves and eats strawberries, the baby will have a strawberry birthmark. Finding a four-leaf clover means youll have good luck. Currently residing in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Amy is an English teacher and soccer coach who grew up in the Appalachian Mountains. Dimples on the chin are said to be made by the devil's shoe. Still a good reference. If squirrels build nests low in the trees, expect a bad winter. of my folks when I was a kid. If you cut or shave your hair, itll grow back thicker. The region, which reaches seven Southern states, is historically rich in folklore and superstition. The event made local and national news, and even prompted an official U.S. Air Force inquiry! Eating a piece of "fruitcake" was supposed to bring you luck all . Part 4: Legends, Animal Tales, and Superstitions. READ MORE:30 Fascinating Blue Ridge Mountains Facts, READ MORE: The 15 Best Fall Festivals in Georgia. a dove around you is a visit from the spirit of one you love who has passed. If a baby is born with a veil, he or she will have the gift of prophecy. For all you bald persons out there, have you tried this folklore remedy? My grandfather helped me compile a list for school (45 years ago). 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). When a person dies in a home, open a door for his/her spirit to pass. The name likely derives from the word catawampus, a mountain folklore saying that describes a boogeyman, or something that has gone badly. Memories have a way of invading the mind, conjured from some small movement, an event, the lilt in a voice, a childs laughter, or, sometimes, nothing at all. For instance, when we were growing up, according to our maternal Grandmother if a piece of silverware was dropped on the floor, it meant a visitor was coming; for a knife dropped, it was a man, for a fork dropped, it was a woman, for a spoon dropped, it was a baby. I thought cats and dogs ate grass to help them get rid of hairballs. Ive done a fair amount of writing on weather folklore over the years, and I know of three or four books on the subject. Break a mirror seven years bad luck. If you take a shower on the first few days of menstruation, youll cramp to death. This is a sure cure for the malady. get my head peeled, and daddys Now Id call it bad luck if you didnt know about it and maybe if you did. The Flatwoods Monster Of West Virginia. 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. There are two cures for it. There was also a co-worker who did the black cat thing turn around and go a different route. Doney-gal means sweetheart, an expression British sailors picked up in Spanish or Italian ports and preserved by backwoodsmen whose ancestors, The Mountain Burned With Fire by Jerry Wilson Oh the mountain burned with fire Smoke was everywhere The trumpet sounded, Chattanooga Federal camp by the Tennessee River (Library of Congress) Camp Near Taylorsville Johnson County Tennessee Nov, The old saying Christmas in July means something happened smack dab in the middle of the summer that rates, I dont hardly know what youre going to do. 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). 95. Legend tells of a brutal battle betweenCherokee and Catawba warriorson Brown Mountain,which left many dead on the battlefield. If you dont look upon a dead family member (or another person whos close to you), you wont believe the person died and youll go insane. Love reading about superstitions and folklore. Apr 10, 2023 4:06 PM EDT. Dont let a cat near the baby. (Who wants to try that?). The first boy that comes along and says wax you will say stix. READ MORE:The 15 Best North Carolina Mountain Towns to Visit. Photo by Tim Bertelink on Wikimedia. The 7th son of a 7th son or daughter can also do this. I wish I still had his list. Today most of the time the superstitions are said in a joking manner. 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. A dogs mouth is cleaner than a humans mouth. If you give them to newlyweds, it will cut their love. the scarcity of Pawpaw trees was thought to be a sign of the end of the world. On December 15, 1967, the Mothman was credited for the collapse of Silver Bridge, which killed 46 people. Please lord no goitered for me please!!!! The Wampus Cat (a.k.a. We want to hear them. Can never hear enough of this kind of thing. Not so much Appalachian focused; general superstitions, etc. Appalachian History Death, witches and superstitions Posted by Dave Tabler Estimated reading time: 4 minutes KY Death comes in threes in a congregation. When I asked my Tennessee-based family about the most common Appalachian superstitions, I was shocked by how many we still practice today. A cat will take away a babys breath and kill the infant. Your email address will not be published. Letting an infant see themselves in a mirror before 1st birthday is bad luck YOUR NOTES WERE VERY HELPFUL!!! Made famous by a 1997 episode ofThe X-Files and the 2002 film The Mothman Prophecies, the Mothman is a fearsome creature with broad wings and red eyes who originated in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. To experience these Appalachian legends for yourself, visit the Historic Bell Witch Cave, which located in Adams TN. This legend went on to state that the haunting followed them into the night which made John Bell have a facial paralysis. If a child keeps sucking his/her thumb, he or she will have an overbite. Anyhow, I just wanted to say thanks for sharing.Whitney Miracle. Fruitcake. event : evt, 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. Of all the many aspects of this subject, the one which interests me most is the folklore of weather. Celebrating and Preserving the You might be surprised how widely held this belief is. 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. The Appalachian ghost story eventually became famous enough to reach General Andrew Jackson. Its bad luck because it was believed pigs cant swim. Appalachian culture is full of its own myths, legends, and ghost stories, many of which were made famous by TV shows such as The X-Files and Mountain Monsters. 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. 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. ), youll die once it reaches your height. I reached for the doorknob, then hesitated full stop and motionless. Yet, some differ from state to state, region to region, or, family to family. 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. P.s. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The Bell Witch Haunting started when John Bell witnessed the apparition of a strange creature resembling a dog. 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. I met him a few times when I was younger. If you walk underneath a ladder, its bad luck. ??? Cats get hairballs from licking their fur. The modern folk festival was born in Appalachia. The land was born before life on earth had evolved bones to crawl out of the primordial ocean to become fossilized in the tectonic crash . Other than the folklore of the Appalachian Mountain, there are more shocking superstitions that have been passed down by several generations. Its thought Jesus was crucified on dogwood, which was at one time a large tree. Given that, this list might call some to your mind. When a newborn smiles, angels are guarding him or her. Another ghost story about the lights includes one about a Revolutionary War soldier linked to the Civil War ghosts. But the legend of Bigfoot a common figure in mountain folklore began in 1958 in Humboldt County, California. If you make fun of a sick person, youll get sick. The writings of the author are mere opinions (from information that she has gathered from who knows where?). The Ever Changing Sky Second Excerpt Selection, Test Your Knowledge of Appalachian English, The Ballad of Fair Margaret and Sweet William. The story of the Mothman began on November 15, 1966. Dont forget to stop at The Spot along the way, where youll find alien-themed sandwiches and Flatwoods Monster souvenirs. Jim, Ive heard all of these. After Johnston experienced the spirit first-hand, word quickly began to spread. Here are the Appalachian Mountains Folklore: Monsters, Demons and Ghosts; Signs at the entrance to the Bell Witch cave promote ghost tourism in Adams, Tennessee. However, it is believed that this was a meteor that had fallen off the sky and the round object was an owl. 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. her youngest sons skills she taught me, so I got to catch a Coins on a veterans headstone (not so much a superstition but a message of respect): Always go out the same door you entered, otherwise youll have bad luck. i) Dont walk under a ladder. I enjoyed the post regardless of whether I believe them or not. Thanks, Ethelene!! Itll take the babys breath. 17 Apr. But neither of those chickens 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. John Bell grew so concerned by these violent escalations that he shared his story with a family friend, James Johnston. 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. To learn more about this Appalachian scary story, visit the Flatwoods Monster Museum in Sutton WV. Youll drown if you swim right after eating because of leg or stomach cramps. Tingling or itching ears are a sign that someone is talking about you. Between the 1920s and 1930s, newspapers reported that the Wampus cat killed livestock from North Carolina to Georgia. I just thought of something! I would look at Ron rash's something rich and strange short stories. This is true West Virginia folklore at its finest. Most of these sayings Ive heard all my life, but then I grew up in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. They are a legendary group of short, bearded white-skinned people who are believed to have lived in the Appalachia region until they were expelled by the Cherokee Indians. Some of these legends existed way long before the contemporary stories of Bigfoot. I was about 10, one Sunday our Your wish will be granted. My mother had a first cousin that matched this 100%. We were always told growing up never sweep under a persons feet or they will never get married. It would be worth seeing if someone dear to the family dies after a dog howls mournfully at night. If you touch a dead person, you wont dream of him/her. According to both Appalachian folk tales and Cherokee legend, a group of pale-skinned humanoids called the Moon-Eyed People might be hiding somewhere in the Appalachian range. The first visitor on New Years Day to a home will determine whether the firstborn on that homestead for the year, person or animal, will be male or female, according to the sex of the visitor. Amy is excited to share her passion for the outdoors through her writing! 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. If you drop a knife, a man is coming to visit. Ghost Tales & Superstitions of Southern Appalachian Mountains. Photo by Bloodyboppa on Wikimedia. More Im sure. Celebrating and Preserving the Appalachian folks blended ancient Celtic rituals from Scotland and Ireland, Protestant Christianity, and African traditions with teaching from local Native Americans into a unique mixture of witchcraft, religion, and earth magic. As a teacher, I cant subscribe to this method of getting over difficulties in learning reading, mathematics or science. If a black cat crosses your path youll have bad luck.
appalachian folklore and superstitions