Thanks for sharing. Hard to remember. Prior to the 20th century, Bigfoot was known by names like Sasquatch (a Salish word meaning wild-men) or Yeti (in Himalayan folklore). Mason County Sheriff George Johnson believed it to be a large bird, because the stories fit the description of a Sandhill Crane, which has a red forehead and wingspans recorded up to 7 feet, 7 inches. During one of these phases, the Creek people annihilated the race. If you dream youre falling and you hit the ground, youll die in your sleep. Ethelene-Good stuff this morning. I have heard alot of these sayings, from my Great-Granny, Mamaws & Papaws, & Aunts, Uncles & Cousins too!! If a broom falls over for no reason when someone walks past, it is an omen of bad fortune. 3) Thanks to Ms. Jones for this guest post. Between the 1920s and 1930s, newspapers reported that the Wampus cat killed livestock from North Carolina to Georgia. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a287555a6a3a090c63bff0669473fbc2" );document.getElementById("jb1fe6f8fb").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. All hosted affiliate links follow our editorial & privacy policies. There are several tales about the Brown Mountain lights which were told by several people from the Appalachian region. Hello Gary. If you put shoes on the bed, it heralds death for someone close to you. That action is sure to bring bad luck. To relieve migraines, cut your hair because its too heavy for your head. The Ever Changing Sky Second Excerpt Selection, Test Your Knowledge of Appalachian English, The Ballad of Fair Margaret and Sweet William. If you sweep underneath a single persons feet, he or she will never marry. READ MORE: Appalachian Folklore, Monsters and Superstitions. )to give forecasts. Some versions state that these are threatening creatures which were nocturnal and children were warned against saying the names. It meant you'd have good luck all year. He assured me he was serious about the presentation. A dogs mouth is cleaner than a humans mouth. If a butterfly lights on you, it means youre special and will have good luck. Now Id call it bad luck if you didnt know about it and maybe if you did. The impact of Appalachia's people and culture is found in food and entertainment, industry and business, music and entertainment, literature, language, and history. There are still claims that the lights seen today are of the spirits of the Catawba women still searching. } Thanks! 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. If you spill salt, its bad luck. If a picture in a frame suddenly falls and breaks, it is a sign of death. Give the first pinch of a freshly baked loaf of bread to the Good Men to keep them happy. A combination of folk magic, faith healing, and superstitions, granny magic was often the only source of aid for people in remote, isolated regions. tell granny enjoying the CD. However, the killing of livestock attributed to the wampus cat might have been due to early intrusions of coyotes or jaguarundi. When trees leaves turn backward, rain will soon come. If you have a toothache, drink liquids from a cobalt-blue glass to cure the ache. These superstitions in these mountains are endless to say the least. 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. Though threatened by urbanization, the oral tradition of storytelling has been preserved by the tendency for southern men to gather to hunt, fish, and share their stories. I've joked that it seems like pretty much everything portends death in Appalachia. 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 practices of river baptisms, snake handling, and folk healing were common in rural Appalachia. 'Appalachian Folklore: Omens, Signs and Superstitions' explores the historical and cultural evolution of the pioneers who first ventured into the Appalachian Mountains. I not really too badly afflicted with it. This legend went on to state that the haunting followed them into the night which made John Bell have a facial paralysis. Have you ever stopped yourself before walking under a ladder? Granny believes in the one about going out the same door you come in-and she follows it strictly! If a pregnant woman carries high, the babys a boy (or vice versa, depending on whos saying it). The story of the Mothman began on November 15, 1966. Your email address will not be published. Appalachian death superstitions involve household objects as well. 6. When I have heard quite a few of these, but not all of them. The Brown Mountain Overlook, Wisemans View Overlook, and Lost Cove Cliffs Overlook are the most popular places to see them. If you walk underneath a ladder, its bad luck. Apr 10, 2023 4:06 PM EDT. If you go outside in winter without a coat, youll get sick. Powered by WordPress. One man, claiming he had knowledge of how to deal with witches, boasted that his silver bullets were keeping the witch at bay. And that aint superstition! What are some expressions you heard your family say growing up? My Dad would take a different street or road if a black cat crossed the road ahead of us. Some Common Folklore and Superstitions Held Among Mountain Folk written by Ethelene Dyer Jones. So we ended on a happy note!!!! If you say the wrong name in conversation, the named person is thinking about you. This could have been so much more. God bless. Never give someone a set of knives as a gift. I was pleased that the author addressed the history and diversity of cultures that have resulted in the unique blend of traditions that make us who we are. My sister Miki has a goiter!! Stop a clock in a room when a person dies. Death always happens in threes. Dont leave the house during a full moon. What Is Appalachian Granny Witchcraft? And while some stories have proliferated in the region, taking place wherever the tale happens to be told, others are . If you make fun of a sick person, youll get sick. Wonderful post thanks, Ethelene! 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. Two couples Roger and Linda Scarberry, and Steve and Mary Mallette reported seeing a large flying humanoid with a 10-foot wingspan and glowing red eyes following their car. Just to get the child to eat some stolen milk or food was considered a sure cure. I just thought of something! We cut extra wood, sealed windows and doors, and bought generators waiting for what was surely going to be a hard winter. Share your stories! 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. My family was really big on the death superstitions. Every time you pop or crack your knuckles, they grow. by Tammy J Poore. However, it is believed that this was a meteor that had fallen off the sky and the round object was an owl. Ruth! Appalachian History Death, witches and superstitions Posted by Dave Tabler Estimated reading time: 4 minutes KY Death comes in threes in a congregation. You know! Something haunting and mysterious exists in these mountains, from Native American spiritual energies or from settlers who brought auras and cultures from their motherlands. Often it is in the form of parody. http://www.jimcasadaoutdoors.com. 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. Culture of Appalachia Quarter: the visitor was there at the veteran's passing. Folklore & Superstitions in Appalachia | Blind Pig and The Acorn Appalachia, Folklore Folklore & Superstitions in Appalachia January 15, 2021 In my latest video I discuss folklore and superstitions. 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. Spin around in a circle three times before you walk in the front door to confuse any spirits that are following you. Any recommendations on some books/websites I can read about Local Folk Magic, Legends, Hauntings, etc? If you hold in a sneeze, itll cause your brains to bleed. Appalachian culture is known for superstitions and legends like these. YOUR NOTES WERE VERY HELPFUL!!! If a pregnant woman carries low, the babys a girl (or vice versa, depending on whos saying it). 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've grown up hearing so many of these signs & omens. Dont do any canning or gardening on your period. Pink sky at nite sailor delight. A cat will take away a babys breath and kill the infant. I love this topic! On 15th December 1967, the collapse of the Silver Bridge and the death of 46 people were connected to the Mothman sightings of the bridge collapse. I thought cats and dogs ate grass to help them get rid of hairballs. READ MORE: The 10 Best Haunted Houses inNorth Carolina. Rare Books Peculiarities of the Appalachian mountaineers; a summary of legends, traditions, signs and superstitions that are almost forgotten. 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. A rock with a hole in it brings good luck. Ones own Pee, bout a spoonful in the ear. Tipper, And the folklore program Also I would try and contact pat jarret at the folklore dept of the humanities center in VA. Salt placed in four corners and all window sills of the house will keep out evil. Unlike other Appalachian monsters, the Moon-Eyed People were considered to be a distinctively separate race of people, rather than supernatural beings. Grandmother Joy. 95. 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. I reached for the doorknob, then hesitated full stop and motionless. The name likely derives from the word catawampus, a mountain folklore saying that describes a boogeyman, or something that has gone badly. Hang a horseshoe upside down to keep good luck from running out. The Wampus Cat (a.k.a. Get help and learn more about the design. Thanks for watching. Ive known people that would stop and let another car go by before they went on. Never tell a dream before breakfast or it will come true. Recorded accounts of Brown Mountain Light sightings happened throughout the 20th century, especially as the Linville area gained access to electricity. Cold hands, warm heart; hot hands, cold heart. (My mom used to call these lie bumps.). Dream of a baby, someone you know will die. Don't throw your hair out! . In and out by the same door is the only one I follow. Another one has two meanings It might seem obvious to readers, but the Moon-Eyed People were most likely just European settlers. Treading on an ant nest will cause rain that day. 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. all the stuff I had on my pantsleg Id planned to sit among all the beautiful blooms in our flower garden, Gabriels Garden. Sometimes, there's a nationality so you know which immigrants brought them over, but there's not backing up with footnotes or anything. Another is to sprinkle salt between the sheet and the mattress on the bed he/she is sleeping. The history of Appalachia itself is the history of the granny witchcraft tradition; although the name is relatively new, the customs go back a long time. If you recite this verse, it stops bleeding: If you put chewed tobacco (chewing or regular tobacco) on an insect bite or bee sting, it draws out the poison and stops hurting. May described the figure to have small, claw-like hands, clothing-like folds and a head that resembled the ace of spades. Dont forget to stop at The Spot along the way, where youll find alien-themed sandwiches and Flatwoods Monster souvenirs. Dont rock a rocking chair without someone in it, bad luck. I have undoubtedly forgotten some. This was a punishment for hiding beneath the pelt of a wild cat to witness a secret ceremony. Suddenly falls and breaks, it means youre special and will have good luck big on the bed, heralds. Peculiarities of the spirits of the Catawba women still searching. Changing Sky Second Excerpt,! 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