Folklore and Superstitions in Appalachia

I'm sharing folklore and superstitions in this video. Some I grew up hearing others I've only read or heard about.

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#Appalachia #Superstitions #Folklore

[evermore]

I was always taught to pull over for a funeral procession and turn the radio off too.
They used to teach that in driver's education in high school, but no more.
When my Mother passed, the electric workers on the side of the road stopped working and placed their hard hats over their 💕... I'll never forget that moment of great kindness.

[dixiebullman]

I forgot about the pulling over for a funeral!! Yes we do that tooo!! When my sister passed..as we passed the co-op the men working stopped and took off their caps..such a show of Respect Love living in the South

[lesliebrickey]

My father's side of the family is from Coolidge Georgia. When my grandmother's casket was brought back to Coolidge for burial everyone on that road pulled over and got out of their cars. The men took off their hats and folks also placed their hands over their hearts. How sweet is that!

[dgrubb]

In our family. Our great grandmother was hanging clothes when a hugh flock of turtle doves flew down stream along the path the river took. Taking this as a omen, she gathered up her kids (3) and headed for higher ground when she tired out she turned around just in time to see a wall of water take the house. Only thing they found was a trunk. TO THIS DAY no member of our family (now four generations) are allowed to hunt doves. Nervious as a snake in a hog pen.

[bradm.]

I believe that Folklore is Sacred, and should be preserved and honored....I have visited Appalachia it is very Magical

[oldgoat]

When hunting: If you get something always leave the "Woods" something in return. An apple, some of your lunch on a log, tobacco, salt something the forest creatures will eat. If not the "Woods" will become angry because you do nothing but take and your luck will turn bad when hunting. Foolish, but I still do it.

[warrenspeace]

If you spill salt, you’re supposed to sprinkle a little over your left shoulder to keep the devil away.

[lanamoler]

In Kansas we pull over to the right side of the road and turn on our lights as soon as we see the beginning of a funeral procession!

[jochildress]

My mom always made people leave by the same door. She also wouldn’t let anyone open an umbrella indoors. She took these very seriously. She was born in 1930 in Chicago, but her mother came up in Appalachia (West Virginia). She also wouldn’t let me tell my dreams before breakfast. I always thought that was just a way to get me to eat my breakfast.

[Wainwright-dbiz]

A superstition that my Granny always abided by was this: When you are waving goodbye to a loved one that is departing from your home via their car or just walking away...never watch them go completely out of your sight, avert your eyes, or you'll never see that loved one again. I am not superstitious at all, but I do this in remembrance of my beloved Granny.

[brianmcdaid]

"If your feet itch you're going to walk on strange ground." I think I can see where the term "Itchy feet" for one who likes to travel may have come from.

[sameoldmphymel]

The other similarity between Cajun and Appalachian folk is we both existed in isolation longer than the rest of the country. Both resilient and resourceful and value our histories. We both even have our own style of music

[Octavia]

I'm Canadian & my parents are from Austria. My mom used to say that if a bird flew into your house it meant death. She also said that if all cows were laying down in the field it meant it would rain soon.

[blondeleviathan]

My great grandmother was such a strong woman, who birthed 18 children. Lived to see most of them pass. She was a granny witch, is what she was always called . Great granny witch of Appalachia. She was a healer and was able to make warts disappear by rubbing them, and among many other miraculous things she could do. Wish I could have got to know her longer than 6 years of my life .

[frankmills]

So fascinated by Appalachian culture. Love how you tell the stories of these old sayings. So charming.

[carrienicholas]

I always heard If the good lord willing and the creek don't rise

[sherimcneil]

My Granny, born in 1902 or 1903 - she never knew for sure, had a saying for everything. The one that always made us laugh was if your nose itches, somebody's coming with a hole in their britches. If I had an easier keyboard I could list a big mess of her sayings. I loved her so much and my kids and grand kids know most of her songs, stories, rhymes and sayings! Thank you for sharing these videos and give your Granny a hug for me.

[jenniferstomberger]

When my Nanny 💗 passed we had a bit of a drive from the funeral home to her burial site. My husband had never seen traffic pull over for a funeral procession. His mind was blown when all of the oncoming and approached traffic did so, even on a divided 4 lane highway.
Maybe, some of the vehicles recognized who's procession it was, but most would not have. Respect is a demonstration. We ALL have a journey here which begins and ends.
Thank you for sharing. You always spark memories!

[caroleboren]

My grandma always said if dogs howled it meant bad luck or someone was going to die. The night she died, we heard dogs howling and she had a weird look on her face and said someone is going to die in town tonight...gave me goosebumps and I've never forgotten that. Shortly before my Dad died about 6 months ago, a bird repeatedly flew into my bedroom window like it was trying to get in. He died less than 48 hours later. I somehow knew it was a warning. I have heard death comes in 3's or 5's. I have heard so many of these.

[theGothicTopic]

Beautiful video.. as a child in Newfoundland Canada we heard many of these as well.. Appalachia, like Newfoundland, was where a lot of people from Europe settled and they brought a lot of their folk remedies and sayings with them when they came.. a hint of magic in every one