AppalachianFolkA Collection of Appalachian Stories

Numerous studies are available about fatalism in Appalachia. A few I’ve read, indicate the first Scotch Irish settlers of Appalachia brought their fatalistic outlook with them, then passed it on to future generations. Others infer the sometimes dim outlook of Appalachians is directly related to their isolated lives and the difficult circumstances surrounding them. I personally believe, [...]

Tom Dooley is a song I’ve heard all my life, I can even play it on the bass. It’s one of those sad down right mean songs about a horrible act-that still seems to draw me in for some reason. Appalachia abounds with lonesome sadistic songs about killing-almost always a girl. Some of the songs [...]

Some laughter by way of Pap. Back in the day, Pap and a friend walked to see 2 brothers, who were musicians-in the hopes of hearing some good pickin and grinnin. Soon after arriving, they started asking the brothers to play them a song-but the boys kept putting them off. Even the boys’ Mother encouraged [...]

The Summer Solstice was on June 21st. For several days before and after, the Sun seems to stand still. The longest day and the shortest night of the year occur on the Summer Solstice. This is sometimes called Midsummer since it is roughly in the middle of the growing season. For most folks in Southern [...]

I just finished reading Our Southern Highlanders written by Horace Kephart in 1913. The book documents the lifestyle of the Southern Appalachian People in the early 1900′s. I enjoyed the book and thought it neat that I recognized many of the locations mentioned in the book. Of all the subjects covered, the chapters on dialect [...]

  Until the mid 1950s folks took their corn, wheat, or rye to a local gristmill to have it ground into meal for bread making and other uses. Here in Southern Appalachia most people used Corn for meal-as it was easier to grow and seemed to last longer in storage. Typically the Corn was left [...]

I live in the same mountain holler I grew up in, and sometimes I find myself dwelling on the changes I’ve seen take place. If I could show my girls what the landscape looked like when I was their age, I believe they would have trouble recognizing it’s the same place. One house is gone, [...]

When my brothers and I were growing up, Granny had all kinds of admonitions about storms, specifically about lightning. According to Granny you can’t take a shower, talk on the phone or run water when it is lightning. You also can’t flush the potty or stand by a window. And, at all costs, Granny said [...]

June is one of the most popular months for weddings. Appalachia has many interesting customs and sayings surrounding matrimony-one being a Shivaree. A Shivaree is a loud greeting given to newlyweds on their first night home. The Shivaree starts just after dark and includes loud banging, hollering, and serenading. Putting the couple in a wheel [...]

I am from canning jars, bare feet, and Gibson Guitars I am from steep ridges, dark hollers, and burned bridges I am from Irises, Peonies, and Day-lilies      From fresh mown hay, Dogwoods, and red clay I am from pulpwood cutters, truck drivers,      and homemade butter   I am from full hearts, empty pockets and [...]