(no subject)

[vivien]

Bannatyne book on Day 22:
"The Scottish-Irish and German Influences in Appalachia

The Scottish-Irish formed a large group of frontiersmen who in the early 1800's pushed from the eastern seaboard into the wilderness west of the Allegheny Mountains. There they met up with German Protestants, carving a similar path from their original settlements in Pennsylvania and New York State. Mountain folklore was influenced by these settlers, and theirs was a particularly hearty cultural stew.

In the mountainous backwoods, remnants of old world Halloween could be found in the prevailing general superstitions... But the most vivid element of Halloween mythology in this region was witchcraft: the Scots' heritage of spirit lore in tandem with the German witch mythology produced an especially potent combination.

Witches in 19th-century Appalachia were as important to folk life as they had been to the fearful colonials. Other parts of the world may have entered the Age of Reason, but this region of America held fast to its occult beliefs and kept active a netherworld inhabited by mountain witches. The witch was to become an important symbol of modern Halloween, and her folk life in the backwoods of Appalachia is an interesting chapter in her evolution."

More on Appalachian witches tomorrow!

Comments

[newredshoes]

Yay, Appalachia!

*waves a flag*

[vulgarweed.livejournal.com]

I grew up in Appalachia (SW VA), and I vividly remember the oddballs (or so they seemed at the time; they hadn't made inroads into the schools yet) who would not celebrate Halloween in any way shape or form except for hunkering down in their houses or going to church and praying that night, because they belived so firmly in the veil between worlds being thinner, and that demons and ghosts and evil spirits really were everywhere on that night.

And believe me, we all knew who the local 'witches' were. Even the most secular of us avoided their houses. Even though we were glad to see them most of the rest of the year.