Appalachian Folklore Omens, Signs and Superstitions

by Nancy Richmond

'Appalachian Omens, Signs and Superstitions' explores the historical and cultural evolution of the pioneers who first ventured into the Appalachian Mountains. It includes hundreds of whimiscal superstitions as well as folk cures, charms, and chants practiced by the early settlers of Appalachia.

Genres: Folklore, Nonfiction, Mythology, Spirituality, History, Witchcraft, Reference

178 pages, Paperback

First published April 27, 2011

Reviews

[Latasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've grown up hearing so many of these signs & omens. Learned a few new ones too. Now I can really be afraid of everything

[Dan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a 100-page bullet list. You think I'm joking. But no. This is literally a bullet list. With actual bullet points instead of paragraph breaks. But maybe the information is good, and this is just a very efficient way to communicate? Maybe so, but YOU'LL NEVER KNOW because this Franken-list only cites 10 sources and doesn't say what came from which source.

[Stephanie Ivy Whiteside · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this but was underwhelmed. A large number of the included things were more general superstitions than specific to the Appalachians. I grew up in the foothills of the Appalachians, and other signs or omens from the area weren't included. For example, if wooly worms or extra fuzzy, or if the black stripe is thicker than usual, it will be a colder winter than normal. As a general collection of folklore, it's not bad, but it lacks the specificity promised by the title.

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am so disappointed that this book ever made it to publication. The writings of the author are mere opinions (from information that she has gathered from who knows where?). Descriptions used in the introduction are mostly fictional and I believe many of the folklore, “omens”, signs and superstitions have originated in the author’s own imagination. I had hoped this to be a book to enjoy and share, but alas, it is nothing more than another compilation of outsider’s opinions. Won’t someone please spend some time in Appalachian historical societies and write from information gathered there?

[Laura Beth Finley · Rating 1 out of 5]

A lot of inaccurate information

I felt really disappointed in the way this was written. A lot of the information is inaccurate. It could have had morre depth and truth.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over all this book is really interesting. I liked that way it touched on different superstitions and as someone that has always loved the idea of writing a story filled with Appalachian folk lore and spirituality this is an interesting resource I can pull from. That being said, I wish they had more description of why certain ideas exist rather than just listing them. I would be happy with fewer concepts is they were explained in more depth.

[Britney Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy Richmond’s Appalachian Folklore, Omens, Signs, and Superstitions is a fun glimpse into the enduring beliefs and customs of Appalachia. The book captures the superstitions and omens still practiced today, making it both an informative and nostalgic read. For those with ties to the region, it offers a heartwarming sense of familiarity.

What makes this book especially compelling is its exploration of the origins behind these traditions. It provides a historical context, shedding light on how these beliefs were shaped by generations of Appalachian culture. The collection of sayings, warnings, and folk wisdom creates a vivid tapestry of the region’s heritage.

For readers who grew up hearing these superstitions from family members, this book offers a comforting and sentimental connection to the past. Whether you’re familiar with Appalachian culture or simply curious about its folklore, this is an engaging and insightful read.

A good read for anyone interested in Appalachian traditions, folklore enthusiasts, or those seeking a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

[Jacob Killough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Cow! I just visited Lewisburg, WV Last weekend with my GF! WOW!

So Serendipitous that the author is from the place I just visited this past weekend. We were hiking In Virginia at Roaring Run Falls & Olf Furnace Loop, we decided to head into West Virginia (my Girlfriend is a Virginia Native and had never been to WV so we went exploring Lewisburg.
I am from Texas and have been trying to learn all I can about Appalachia, the history of the people of this land. Folklore, wives Tells, and Granny Magic…
This book is a great read and an easy to reference guide for anyone looking to learn the old ways of these hills. The essential oils section will definitely come in use.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

honestly I really overhyped this for myself it's been on my want to read list for years and fell very short. I feel like we have five pages of broad sweeping 'culture', twenty pages of any intro to spirituality book (gems, plants, divination, and then a hundred pages of bullet points on omens and signs with no context on why or where those beliefs came from. The resources section is even worse- nine citations with only 5 mentioning Appalachia in the title for 175 of material? It's a nice quick read if you're looking for entertainment but not a great reference or resource :/

[T · Rating 1 out of 5]

0, or more accurately, negative stars if it were possible. This book is a car crash.

One such little horrible nugget:
“Of particular interest to the pioneers was the equality and fair treatment afforded to the local Indian women by their mates. More than one pioneers’s daughter chose to run away and live her life in the tee pee of a young brave, thereby intermingling the two cultures even further.”

Like, who in their right mind would type out a paragraph?

What a disgrace.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like there could have been more substance to this book. I would have loved to see more history about the omens, signs, superstitions, and actual fokelore stories. Instead, this book reads like a blog post with just a list of various superstitions that may or may not be exclusive to Appalachia.

[Amanda M. Lyons · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple Record of Appalachian Superstitions

This book works well as a brief introduction to deeper works on the subject or an easy read for those seeking some sense of the culture and origins of Appalachia.

[Edward · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a native Appalachian, I enjoyed this book. I was pleased that the author addressed the history and diversity of cultures that have resulted in the unique blend of traditions that make us who we are. I heard many of the documented omens and superstitions as I grew up and many I hadn't.

[Emily Insall · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting read

This bok contains alot of interesting tidbits of information and was a fun read. The superstitions were very interesting to read and realize how we still have some of them today

[Katie Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was just a bullet pointed list of practices, omens, and superstitions. There was no folklore stories or anything more than “xyz” is a sign/omen of “abc” happening. Definitely not what I was looking for at all.

[Rachel]

This was for research for my own writing and it served its purpose. Also I did the red string and needle thing with 2 pregnant friends and it was accurate both times 🤷‍♀️
Ppl should read into Appalachian culture more often - look into the Firefox series of stuffs!

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute

This book has a lot of old sayings, some I have heard throughout my years. Many I have never heard of. I think it is interesting to think how bad things happened in people’s life and they seemed to have looked around and picked a scenario to ‘blame’ it on.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

General information on superstitions. This could have been so much more. Not so much Appalachian focused; general superstitions, etc. Still a good reference.

[Jamie Shelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting.

It's not exactly what I thought it was going to be, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It was mostly just lists of superstitions and such.

[Hailea Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cool

A cool insight into some superstitions I’ve heard. A lot of ones I’ve never heard of before. Definitely a fun historical read.

[Blanca E. Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining.

I really enjoyed reading this book it was very interesting. I read so many books but this one is on my list of most entertainment.

[J.M. Greenlaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

It’s crazy how the things we do as part of our culture are rooted in the Appalachian traditions. I never knew why the bride and groom cut the cake together. Now I do.

[Joshua Key · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's more of a list of folklore with no historical context, fun but knowing where some of the practices came from would be interesting.

[scot ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wealth of information

I found so many things in this fun little book that my parents and grandparents used to say. What great memories it evoked.

[Jen Poteet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good collection of folklore. Should be on anyone’s list who wants to delve into Appalachian life.

[Bethany · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stopped partway through poorly written intro. Book seems to rely heavily on exaggerated stereotypes written as truth.

[Dustin Street · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a research read, and while I did get some valuable info, I was hoping for a bit more prose that might dive into culture.

[Daniel M Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding book

Outstanding book had alot of tidbits I haven't heard.I absolutely recommend this book it will be a great addition to your library.

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

It could have been better organized, but some of this was wild. As to be expected from Appalachia.

3.0 🌟

[Ashley Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

short, easy to read, informative!

I found this book captivating and to the point! Also delightfully affordable. I highly recommend people give it a try, no matter what you believe.