Signs, Cures, & Witchery
Augusta Heritage Center・2 minutes read
The Appalachian region's folklore and traditions include beliefs in witchcraft, supernatural elements, and traditional healing practices passed down through generations. German immigrants brought old-world folklore and beliefs to North America, contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of the region.
Insights
- Traditional Appalachian beliefs encompass practices such as using sympathetic magic to counter witchery and relying on healers like Nanny Yankee for cures, showcasing a deep-rooted connection to old-world folklore and supernatural elements.
- The persistence of witchcraft accusations, magical beliefs, and superstitions in Appalachian communities, passed down through generations, reflects a blend of Germanic and Swiss ancestral traditions that continue to influence daily life and cultural practices in the region.
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Recent questions
What are some traditional beliefs in the Appalachian region?
Traditional beliefs in the Appalachian region include practices like using old-world methods for healing, belief in witch doctors, and counter witchery with sympathetic magic. German immigrants brought their folklore and beliefs, leading to a mix of supernatural elements like witches and malevolent spirits. Practitioners like Devi and Debbie continue these traditions, using methods from their Swiss and German ancestors to counter spells and cure ailments. The region also has a history of accusations of witchcraft, especially towards women, with stories of magical abilities like producing milk without a cow or using a charm in buttermaking.
How were women perceived in relation to witchcraft in the Appalachian region?
Women in the Appalachian region were often accused of witchcraft and persecuted, especially during the inquisition and in Germanic countries. They were considered healers or witches for their abilities to cure ailments and deliver babies using traditional methods. Stories like that of Euni Connard, who was believed to be a witch due to her magical ability to produce milk without a cow, reflect the suspicions and beliefs surrounding women and witchcraft in the region. Accusations of witchcraft were prevalent, with women like Nanny Yankee being seen as healers or witches for their practices.
What are some examples of traditional practices in the Appalachian region?
Traditional practices in the Appalachian region include using old-world methods for healing, such as using a piece of cloth for ruptures or charms in buttermaking. Beliefs in witch doctors who break spells and counter witchery with sympathetic magic are prevalent, along with the use of prophetic signs, omens, and malevolent spirits. Practitioners like Devi and Debbie continue these traditions, using methods from their ancestors to cure ailments and counter spells. Superstitions involving hairballs, witch bullets, and burying baby hair and nails to prevent curses were also common in the community.
What supernatural elements were brought by German immigrants to the Appalachian region?
German immigrants brought medieval beliefs in supernatural elements like witches and malevolent spirits to the Appalachian region. They retained old-world folklore and beliefs, leading to a mix of traditional practices and superstitions in the area. Stories of witches stealing milk through sorcery, using magical phrases and symbols to dispel witchery, and the belief in magical powers associated with objects like nails from coffins reflect the influence of German immigrants on the region's supernatural beliefs. Occult symbols like hex signs and religious icons were also used for protection against witchcraft.
How did traditional beliefs in the Appalachian region influence daily life?
Traditional beliefs in the Appalachian region influenced daily life through practices like using old-world methods for healing, belief in witch doctors, and superstitions involving magical elements. German immigrants brought their folklore and beliefs, leading to a mix of traditional practices and supernatural beliefs in the area. Accusations of witchcraft, stories of magical abilities like producing milk without a cow, and the use of charms in buttermaking were prevalent in the community. Practitioners like Devi and Debbie continued these traditions, using methods from their ancestors to cure ailments and counter spells, reflecting the deep-rooted influence of traditional beliefs on daily life in the region.
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Summary
00:00
Old-world beliefs and practices in Appalachia.
- Appalachian mountains are the oldest in the world, with a history of people using old-world methods to deal with dangers.
- German immigrants in the 17th century brought their old-world folklore and beliefs to the mid-Atlantic region of North America.
- Johnny Arvin, a local historian, learned stories from his family about traditional cures like using a piece of cloth for ruptures.
- Folkways in the Appalachian region include beliefs in witch doctors who break spells and counter witchery with sympathetic magic.
- Nanny Yankee and others were considered healers or witches for curing ailments and delivering babies using traditional methods.
- Women were often accused of witchcraft, with a history of being persecuted during the inquisition, especially in Germanic countries.
- German immigrants to Pennsylvania in the 1680s retained medieval beliefs in supernatural elements like witches and malevolent spirits.
- Traditional beliefs in prophetic signs, omens, and malevolent spirits were brought by German pioneer families to the frontier of western Virginia.
- Devi, a practitioner of old ways, doctors for witches using methods from her Swiss and German ancestors, believing it aligns with biblical teachings.
- Debbie, another practitioner, uses methods from her ancestors to counter spells she believes are cast on her family, following old traditions.
20:44
"Witchcraft and Superstitions in Early America"
- A woman named Euni Connard was believed to be a witch due to her ability to produce milk magically without a cow.
- Euni Connard, around 100 years old, was seen milking a towel, convincing Mr. Pittsburgh of her witchcraft abilities.
- Euni Connard's grandsons, Everett and Earl, were warned about her witchcraft, but witnessed her milking a dishrag for milk.
- A European woodcut from the 16th century depicts a witch milking an axe handle, reflecting the belief in witches stealing milk through sorcery.
- A woman bought a handle from Genus, drank water magically, and produced milk that couldn't be used for butter.
- A charm was used in buttermaking before scientific explanations, with a rhyme invoking Saint Peter for sweet butter.
- A bed cover that wouldn't stay on led to suspicions of witchcraft, with a story of a witch pulling the cover off a bed.
- A tale of a man named Jerry Hartman and his wife, who heard knitting needles after her death until they buried them with her.
- The belief in magical powers associated with a nail from a coffin, with stories of using it to affect apple trees and create a "death crown."
- Various superstitions involving hairballs, witch bullets, and the burying of baby hair and nails to prevent curses were prevalent in the community.
38:38
"Witchcraft: Symbols, Spells, and Traditions"
- To become a witch, obtain a "little black bible" and go to a spring or stream running away from the sun.
- Wash in the stream, using the black bible, and declare freedom from God.
- The witch bible, also known as the black book, is attributed to King Solomon through Flavius Josephus.
- Hex signs and witch symbols have been used since the 12th century, believed to protect against witchcraft.
- Occult symbols like hex signs, hearts, and religious icons reflect German and West Virginian culture.
- Magical phrases and symbols were used inside barns to dispel witchery.
- Magical squares and symbols were used for various purposes, including controlling rabid dogs.
- The divining rod, used for water witching, has a long history in Germany and America.
- Old traditions like shanghai and bell snickeling involved masquerading and cross-dressing, celebrating oppositeness.
