Popular Native American folklore says that a bloody battle between the Cherokee and Catawba tribes took place on the mountain. A rooster crowing at night is a sign of rain coming. 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. Given that, this list might call some to your mind. Never close a knife you didnt open, or youll have bad luck for 7 years. Now Id call it bad luck if you didnt know about it and maybe if you did. Its bad luck to see the bride before the wedding (on the wedding day). I love this topic! Many lives were lost. Can never hear enough of this kind of thing. Carrying a rabbits foot gives you good luck. Thanks! If your ears burn, somebodys gossiping about you. 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. Dont make faces, your expression will get stuck and stay that way. If your nose is itching, it means company is coming. I have heard quite a few of these, but not all of them. If a rabbit crosses your path before sunrise, unhappiness will cloud your day. Animals with heavy fur growth in autumn indicates a bad winter. PS Daddy wasnt stupid. The lights, claim the legend, are the ghosts of grieving women still searching the mountainside for the bodies of fallen warriors. I reached for the doorknob, then hesitated full stop and motionless. Few wanted a spoon to fall. Thanks for sharing. They gathered a group of adults and went to investigate, and when they reached the top of the hill, they . Also ring around the moon means rain. Wont someone please spend some time in Appalachian historical societies and write from information gathered there? I was about 10, one Sunday our (. 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. 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. Calling out the name of a deceased person while dreaming is an omen of a death. c) Always go out the same door you came in. Tell no one and itll come true. listeners: [], He had it nailed shut. He just smiled and said, Its just a superstition. Some Common Folklore and Superstitions Held Among Mountain Folk written by Ethelene Dyer Jones Appalachian History Death, witches and superstitions Posted by Dave Tabler Estimated reading time: 4 minutes KY Death comes in threes in a congregation. If you touch a dead person, you wont dream of him/her. Please lord no goitered for me please!!!! But the legend of Bigfoot a common figure in mountain folklore began in 1958 in Humboldt County, California. Back in the days when witchcraft was more common, and some were suspected of being witches, there was a sure sign of whether the deceased was really a witch or not. Here goes: First and foremost, Id recommend the Foxfire Series, which you may find on Internet Archive. 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. Below is a list of common mountain folklore. Never leave a rocking chair rocking, or you will invite spirits. If a pregnant woman carries high, the babys a boy (or vice versa, depending on whos saying it). 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. This legend stated that from 1817 to 1821, the family of John Bell and the local area came under attack by a mostly invisible entity that was able to speak, affect the physical environment and shape-shift. I wanted to cuss, but that would window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { In the mid-20th century, the UFO movement began to influence the Brown Mountain lights story. All images and content are subject to copyright and are the sole property of Blind Pig & The Acorn. If your arthritis acts up, itll soon rain. 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 . Itll take the babys breath. Ghost Tales & Superstitions of Southern Appalachian Mountains. Ken. If a rooster crows at a burial, the one whos buried is a sinner. Theres a 3-foot- tall sculpture of two conjoined figures thought to represent Moon-Eyed People,which was found in the early 1840s. all the stuff I had on my pantsleg But a few were very familiar to me! My family is all from West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. But, Baldness is a blessing. The writings of the author are mere opinions (from information that she has gathered from who knows where?). Dont cut your babys hair before their first birthday. I have undoubtedly forgotten some. Maybe the dog senses something humans do not. Dimples on the chin are said to be made by the devil's shoe. The seventh daughter of the seventh daughter or the seventh son of the seventh son will be a healer, fortune teller, preacher, or prophet. 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. Id tease him & ask not superstitious are ya Dad? His reply would be no need to try it. } 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). If the wedding ring is dropped during the ceremony, who ever dropped it will be the first one to die. This system was passed down orally through the years and practiced as a way of keeping the folklore alive. Two brothers, Edward and Fred May and their friend Tommy Hyer reported having spotted a bright object cross the sky and land on the property of a local farmer on 12th September 1952 at 7:15 p.m. all over the place. Part 4: Legends, Animal Tales, and Superstitions. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Another says fallen tree on your property predicts death in the house Have you ever heard the superstition that if you drop something (dishtowel, fork or anything) in your kitchen, youll have company coming before the day ends? on: function(evt, cb) { Letting an infant see themselves in a mirror before 1st birthday is bad luck } This could have been so much more. Print length 180 pages Language English 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. Some of these superstitions are mesmerising while others do not have any sense. Thanks for watching. Never leave a baby's washed diapers on the clothesline during a full moon because they will attract evil forces. An older ghost story stated about a woman and a baby who was murdered in the Jonas Ridge community which was used to incorporate the source of the lights. When There are two cures for it. Ear ache? Have you heard any not listed here? Just to get the child to eat some stolen milk or food was considered a sure cure. Share your stories! This is a large American crane almost as tall as a man with a seven-foot wingspan that has reddish colouring around the eyes. Deaths and births always come in threes. Jerry Crew, a logging company employee, discovered a set of extra-large footprints in Six Rivers National Forest. 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. Another popular myth in Appalachian folklore, the Flatwoods Monster originated in Braxton County, West Virginia. The figure made terrifying hissing sounds and glided towards them which made Lemon drop his flashlight making the group run for safety. Tipper, Dont rock an empty rocking chair. As a teacher, I cant subscribe to this method of getting over difficulties in learning reading, mathematics or science. A man who wipes his hands on a girl's apron is sure to fall in love with her. One Karen, my dad had an employee who never went in the main entrance of their factory because it had 13 steps. My family was really big on the death superstitions. So, its called the Judas Tree.. General information on superstitions. there was a grave dug the day before. The Brown Mountain Overlook, Wisemans View Overlook, and Lost Cove Cliffs Overlook are the most popular places to see them. It reminded me of many superstitions I hadnt heard in years. 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. 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. The plaque says, These people are said to have been unable to see during certain phases of the moon. My sister Miki has a goiter!! These superstitions in these mountains are endless to say the least. 1970 (F217.A65.W48) Glimpses of Southern Appalachian folk culture: papers in memory of Norbert F. Riedl. Expect a message. Enjoy your posts! It includes hundreds of whimiscal superstitions as well as folk cures, charms, and chants practiced by the early settlers of Appalachia. Brown eggs are better and more nutritious than white eggs. If clouds are low and fog lingers, rain will come. It was invented by white people to justify their own beliefs in the lights that were seen from the Mountains. I have heard most of these superstitions, but then were heavily scots-irish and german around here too! 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. If a picture falls off the wall for no reason, someone will die (or the house is haunted). When trees leaves turn backward, rain will soon come. 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. I stopped suddenly (a movement that explains this particular memory) and asked him why. If a black cat crosses your path, turn and go a different way. When I asked my Tennessee-based family about the most common Appalachian superstitions, I was shocked by how many we still practice today. A rock with a hole in it brings good luck. Its bad luck to sweep dirt out your door. Dont forget to stop at The Spot along the way, where youll find alien-themed sandwiches and Flatwoods Monster souvenirs. i) Dont walk under a ladder. **Just as a disclaimer, these notions are not advice medical or otherwise. Never take an old broom to a new house. Wonderful post thanks, Ethelene! I would love to hear any of the signs, superstitions, and omens that are a part of your families or communities. You've got to finish before the cat reaches the other side of the road. Run a chicken over your baby to keep if from getting chicken pox. And I hope I never have a goiter lawd! if you see a dove cooing you will hear of a death If squirrels build nests low in the trees, expect a bad winter. My grandfather helped me compile a list for school (45 years ago). 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. I not really too badly afflicted with it. Instead, the name came from the Goldsboro News-Argusnewspaper in North Carolina. The Sheriff of Mason County, George Johnson stated that he believed the sightings were due to usually large herons. She even forced Betsy to break off her engagement with Joshua Gardner before eventually disappearing for good. get my head peeled, and daddys If you shudder for no reason, someones walking on your grave. I heard many of the documented omens and superstitions as I grew up and many I hadn't. Your team will incur many losses. I enjoyed Ethelenes folklore of forms: { Give the first pinch of a freshly baked loaf of bread to the Good Men to keep them happy. Blind Pig The Acorn Cold hands, warm heart; hot hands, cold heart. I knew some of them from our Ozark traditions. Thanks to Ms. Jones for this guest post. 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. Thanks again for the terrific read Tipper I washed fruits and vegetables under cold water and a splash of vinegar, then wiped the counters with bleach water. a dove around you is a visit from the spirit of one you love who has passed. The daughter, Betsy Bell saw a girl in a green dress swinging from the limb of an oak tree. 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. It might seem obvious to readers, but the Moon-Eyed People were most likely just European settlers. Which have you heard? Since the mid-1800s, thousands of Bigfoot sightings have been reported all over the United States (including dozens of reported sightings in the North Georgia mountains). Coins on a veteran's headstone (not so much a superstition but a message of respect): Penny: someone visited the grave. To support our blog and writers we put affiliate links and advertising on our page. I wonder, has anyone seen this happen? Share them with us in the comments section if youd like. Nickel: the visitor was in boot camp with the veteran. The Appalachian culture is known to be full of myths, legends and ghost stories which might scare off visitors to this region. ??? God bless. 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). In a matter of seconds, I recalled the time I was a teenager visiting my grandparents. Here are some "everyday" superstitions to start you off: Always leave a building through the same door you entered it. B.Ruth-Thairs them P words agin. { 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. Legend tells of a brutal battle betweenCherokee and Catawba warriorson Brown Mountain,which left many dead on the battlefield. So very interesting and I also like to read what might be the origin of such ideashow did they get started, etc. 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. We need a remedy for hairy. Today most of the time the superstitions are said in a joking manner. During one of these phases, the Creek people annihilated the race. Cats get hairballs from licking their fur. When a person dies in a home, open a door for his/her spirit to pass. The living room door, for a long time, opened to nothing. 3) If it is the left ear, you're being gossiped about. Tipper and Ethelene 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. 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. 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