Appalachia folklore

When you grow up sheltered in the shadows of the Appalachian Mountains, magic is all around you. My people came from across the world to these mountains and hollers: bringing with them a mixture of religions, demons, folklore, and wisdom. The mixture of these cultures, combined with the ever-present heady spirituality of the hills, which

In Search of Appalachia, by Nancy Diggs, covers a variety of aspects of Appalachia, from historic landmarks to the people who live there. Geology Cumberland Gap

Horror movies based on folklore, like The Curse of La Llorona, Onibaba, or The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, tend to tap into primal fears we have about the unknown and the supernatural. Now, one of the more frightful creatures from Cherokee folklore will be making her way to the big screen, according to Deadline. Spearfinger, […]

Articles on oral traditions, myths, old wives’ tales, fables, tall tales, legends, and ballad lore, back to 2006. Most recent articles appear first.

In your long hikes and woodland quests, have you ever heard some noise you can’t quite place? A growl, perhaps, or even a howl? Have you shuddered when leaves rustled or a twig snapped? Walking on your way home in dark hollers, did you have a creepy feeling that you were being watched? Have you

Guest post by Amy Gentry We Are Much More Than Stereotypical Views Many people have misunderstood West Virginia and our way of life for many years, McDowell County in particular. I have lived in McDowell my entire life, excluding a few… 10.2k SHARES Share ItTweet This GooglePinterestStumbleupon

In part two of our series, we examine creatures from the Kentucky Hellhound to the dreaded Snarly Yow. Our journey takes us into moonshine country and skyward, then makes a daring turn toward the woods and on thoroughfares. Take care on this trek, lest you get lost and are found by one of these beasts.