After attending college at ETSU and UTC, Amy moved to Nashville, where she lived and travelled in a Dodge Sprinter van for a year, before moving back to Chattanooga. I reached for the doorknob, then hesitated full stop and motionless. for me to turn my shoe sole side- I do so enjoy reading all the folk-lore from days past and unless it is absolutely unavoidable I never go out a different door than the one I came inafter all I am of Pa dutch and german people and many of what was written I grew up with so needless to say I sure did enjoy this post. If you give them to newlyweds, it will cut their love! For a cure of baldness, rub the scalp regularly with a divided onion cut cross-wise into hemispheres. Dont rock an empty rocking chair. Whew. 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. Dream of a baby, someone you know will die. Dont walk under a ladder. Appalachia, reminded me of some Much appreciated yall!! To cure thrush, take a child to a person whos never seen his/her father. READ MORE: The 10 Most Haunted Places in Georgia to Visit. It gives you good luck. After John Bells mysterious death in 1820, the Bell Witch continued to haunt his family. Please forgive me because Ive been a bit busy and am just now replying to your comment. This is true West Virginia folklore at its finest. The festival features guest speakers, live bands, vendors, cosplay, and even a 5K run. The first recorded sighting of the Brown Mountain Lights happened in 1771, when German engineer John William Gerard de Brahm wrote about seeing the lights in his journal. In the past weve tried both routes. And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live., **Featured Image: by DimaDim_art at Pixabay. Tipper, After all that, I sought a little calmness. 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. The event made local and national news, and even prompted an official U.S. Air Force inquiry! all the stuff I had on my pantsleg Fruitcake was also considered good luck in old Appalachian tradition. The factory made cowboy boots. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { I have heard quite a few of these, but not all of them. A cat eating grass foretells rain. Whether this is true or not, maybe we should try it out in this dry, hot weather, and see, if after our cat chews on grass, rains come. I bet iffen that Jim feller aint one a them Prevaricating Politicians aready hed make a goodern. Popular Native American folklore says that a bloody battle between the Cherokee and Catawba tribes took place on the mountain. Very gruesome If a rabbit crosses your path before sunrise, unhappiness will cloud your day. I wish I still had his list. And the folklore program Also I would try and contact pat jarret at the folklore dept of the humanities center in VA. If it is the left ear, you're being gossiped about. Shows how much I know! If a black cat crosses your path youll have bad luck. Jerry Crew, a logging company employee, discovered a set of extra-large footprints in Six Rivers National Forest. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I dont know if these will help, but they may provide a catalyst for you. 671K views 2 years ago "Signs, Cures, & Witchery" provides a fascinating glimpse of some little-known Appalachian beliefs and practices among descendants of early German pioneers. My sister Miki has a goiter!! On November 15th 1966, two young couples comprising Roger and Linda Scarberry, and Steve and Mary Mallette reported spotting a large grey creature whose eyes glowed red. Remember that waterfalls and rocky summits can be dangerous. I have compiled some information here for you. 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. The name was also used for a mythical creature in J.K. Rowlings Pottermore story, The History of Magic in North America., READ MORE:The 15 Best Things to Do in SWVA (Southwest Virginia). get my head peeled, and daddys 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. If you touch a dead person, you wont dream of him/her. 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. 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 you sweep underneath a single persons feet, he or she will never marry. 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. I never heard of a frog in a grave, here where i live in north central Pennsylvania, Id recommend master the homework. Is one of your children having trouble with a subject in school? Otherwise, spirits might get angry. As a native Appalachian, I enjoyed this book. 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. Some legend tells about a brutal battle between the Cherokee and Catawba warriors on Brown Mountain which left several warriors dead. Bad luck to go out a different door than you come in.. 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. 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. Never take a garden tool in the house, bad luck. To punish him, the witch set her sights on the man, giving him a beating that had Jacksons men begging to leave. Well And dont ever walk under a ladder leaned against the building. As a general collection of folklore, it's not bad, but it lacks the specificity promised by the title. Sounds like youre between the devil and the deep blue sea., Do you stake your tomatoes? Part 4: Legends, Animal Tales, and Superstitions. Avoid walking atop graves as a sign of respect. But his written account stated that he saw the lights at a consistent time every night, leading many people to believe he was actually seeing train lights in the distance. 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. 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. I hope you enjoyed Ethelenes post as much as I did! When it was time for me to leave, I rose to exit out the front door. 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. 4.8 out of 5 stars 9. If a pregnant woman carries low, the babys a girl (or vice versa, depending on whos saying it). Tipper (and Ethelene)Im fascinated by superstitions, although I prefer to consider them mountain folklore since a fair portion of them have some underlying factual basis. To release this curse, pinch a little and throw it over your left shoulder. There are still claims that the lights seen today are of the spirits of the Catawba women still searching. I stopped suddenly (a movement that explains this particular memory) and asked him why. Like always, I entered with the groceries through the back door. The Flatwoods Monster Of West Virginia. http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com. Ossman & Steel's Classic Household Guide to Appalachian Folk Healing: A Collection of Old-Time Remedies, Charms, and Spells. Here are a couple that have stayed with me. 6. APPALACHIAN FOLKLORE GUIDE The Bell Witch Bigfoot The Brown Mountain Lights The Flatwoods Monster The Moon-Eyed People The Moth-man The Wampus Cat Appalachian Superstitions READ MORE: The 15 Best Fall Festivals in Georgia Bell Witch Signs, photo by BRad06 is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 1. Im surprised I have not heard all the superstitions Etelene wrote about as my parents believed in all sorts of sayings. So, I poured myself a glass of wine and headed to the front door. The Flatwoods Monster was first spotted on September 12, 1952, when a group of boys playing football in a field near the town saw a bright object streak across the sky and crash land on a nearby hill. Don't throw your hair out! Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. I have undoubtedly forgotten some. Required fields are marked *. Thanks, Ethelene!! The living room door, for a long time, opened to nothing. 1978 (GN1.T454 no. If you come upon a black dog out of nowhere or if a black dog crosses your path, it foretells death. Photo by BRad06 on Wikimedia. A rock with a hole in it brings good luck. 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. a rabbits foot is lucky and will protect from evil spirits. LOL. I see some were converted from bad luck to bad manners. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a287555a6a3a090c63bff0669473fbc2" );document.getElementById("jb1fe6f8fb").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. I love love love Appalachia & am proud to be from this Neck of tha Woods! I would look at Ron rash's something rich and strange short stories. This. Some of these legends existed way long before the contemporary stories of Bigfoot. Blowing smoke in the ear cures an earache. Thanks! Top 10 Things to do Around the Eiffel Tower, 10 Things to Do in Paris on Christmas Day (2022), 10 Things to Do in Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. them boogers were just floppin by Tammy J Poore. If you find yourself under one, dont turn around back up. Wont someone please spend some time in Appalachian historical societies and write from information gathered there? But a few were very familiar to me! Few wanted a spoon to fall. Im sure theres more but I cant recall them. Ive known people that would stop and let another car go by before they went on. READ MORE:The 15 Best North Carolina Mountain Towns to Visit. 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. Strange how most are shared . More Im sure. 2nd A large number of the included things were more general superstitions than specific to the Appalachians. Great post! One is to look up the chimney in the house where the homesick person is visiting or residing. a dove around you is a visit from the spirit of one you love who has passed. They gathered a group of adults and went to investigate, and when they reached the top of the hill, they . Heard some of them, not all. When you drop your fork, it means a woman is coming to visit. But first I have to say I was cracking up laughing at some of the comments above. Have you ever stopped yourself before walking under a ladder? So if you went out there was a 4 or 5 foot drop to the ground. 'Appalachian Folklore: Omens, Signs and Superstitions' explores the historical and cultural evolution of the pioneers who first ventured into the Appalachian Mountains. (Think Adam and Eve.). of my folks when I was a kid. I hope you'll join me as I do my best to celebrate and preserve Appalachia. After reviewing the instrument's distinctive musical features, Ralph Lee Smith presents the dulcimer's story . A dog howling three nights in a row means death is near. If squirrels gather nuts early, expect a bad winter. Another says fallen tree on your property predicts death in the house 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. 17 Apr. He just smiled and said, Its just a superstition. Expect a message. Artists impression of the Flatwoods monster. General information on superstitions. I have never heard that wearing wool socks would cure a sore throat but can certainly understand how this would work Currently, we have Blacksmith Work Week, Woodworking Work Week . Old energy and dirt will follow. Id planned to sit among all the beautiful blooms in our flower garden, Gabriels Garden. A man who wipes his hands on a girl's apron is sure to fall in love with her. A sore on the tongue is a sign youve lied. } Your email address will not be published. PS. This could have been so much more. Granny believes in the one about going out the same door you come in-and she follows it strictly! 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. Finding a four-leaf clover means youll have good luck. If a picture falls off the wall for no reason, someone will die (or the house is haunted). The story of the Mothman began on November 15, 1966. Lastly when you dream of death it means there will be a birth 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. If you eat before bed, youll have bad dreams. 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. Keep reading. Its a harbinger of death. If you dream youre falling and you hit the ground, youll die in your sleep. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Pink sky at nite sailor delight. Descriptions used in the introduction are mostly fictional and I believe many of the folklore, omens, signs and superstitions have originated in the authors own imagination. Mountain superstitions of Appalachia Myths, Wives Tales and Signs DONNIE LAWS 137K subscribers 1.7M views 1 year ago They are countless Superstitions in the Appalachian culture on just about. , email, and even a 5K run and let another car go by they! National news, and even prompted an official U.S. Air Force inquiry speakers, live,! Finding a four-leaf clover means youll have bad luck to go out a different door than you come she... 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Reached the top of the hill, they supposed to cure thrush, take a tool!