"Death comes in threes." "An owl's hoot at twilight spells doom." "A cow's mournful moo after dark? Someone's about to cross over." Ever felt a chill run down your spine hearing these old sayings? You've just brushed against the edge of Appalachian folklore, a world where the veil between the natural and supernatural is thin, and the past whispers from every shadowed hollow.

Appalachian folklore is nuanced, reflecting the harsh realities of pioneer life, the deep connection to nature, and the enduring power of oral tradition. These superstitions, although they may be regulated mostly to entertainment nowadays, were survival mechanisms, rooted in attempts to understand and control an often unforgiving environment.

Before we dive in, let's be clear: this isn't about cheap thrills or sensationalizing ancient beliefs. It's about respect. It's crucial to approach Appalachian folklore with respect and sensitivity. These beliefs are not relics of a bygone era; for many, they remain an integral part of their cultural identity.

That being said, grab yourself a glass of sweet tea, and let’s listen to the whispers.

Haint Blue: A Shield Against the Night's Terrors

I love a road trip. I will drive from Chicago to anywhere, especially for a ghost hunt with some of our spooky sibs. Think back to your last trek through the South, and remember all those inviting porches with swings on them (and possibly a pig in a pool looking like a taco - true story) with ceilings painted the softest, most ethereal blue-green. This lovely shade of blue is not just a random pretty color; it's a shield, known as haint blue.

"Haint," a variant spelling of "haunt," is a term historically used in African-American vernacular to describe a ghost or, within Hoodoo traditions, a malevolent, witch-like entity that pursues victims to exhaustion and death. It’s a soft, blue-green that can be seen across porch ceilings in the Southern United States. Originally, this tradition is credited to enslaved Africans, and later the Gullah Geechee people in Georgia and the Carolinas. Painting the ceiling blue was thought to ward off ghosts or spirits by mimicking the appearance of water, anchored in the belief that ghosts weren’t able to cross water.

*Photo from:* *Pixels.com* *(Dawna Moore)*

The Wampus Cat: Guardian or Fuzzy Fury?

The Wampus Cat is deeply tied to Cherokee folklore, as well as wider Appalachian folklore. There are two main origin stories for this little-known cryptid. One prominent origin story is that the Wampus Cat is the dangerous spirit of a curious woman who was caught spying on secret meetings the men were having. As punishment for her curiosity and failure to conform to male social expectations (say it with me, the patriarchy ruins the party again), she was transformed by medicine men into a mountain lion with glowing yellow eyes.

The origin story I’d like to believe is the actual origin of the Wampus Cat focuses on Running Deer, a Cherokee woman who lost her partner Standing Bear to Ew’ah, the Spirit of Madness. Driven by grief and love, and a healthy thirst for vengeance, Running Deer, armed with a booger mask (a mask used by the Cherokee Nation during dances and ceremonies to discourage evil spirits) and the ferocity of a mountain cat, confronted and defeated the Ew’ah. Her victory elevated her to the role of Spirit-Talker and Home-Protector. Her spirit is believed to live on in the Wampus Cat, a guardian against the dark forces lurking in Tanasi, the Cherokee settlement that gave its name to Tennessee.

The Moon-Eyed People

If you’re traveling in the mountains of Western North Carolina, keep your eyes open for a group of mysterious crypto-humans described as having a small stature, flat face, blonde hair and eyes so blue and pale that they couldn’t tolerate daylight, leading to the description of pronounced “moon eyes” according to Cherokee legend. The Moon-Eyed People lived in caves and were blinded by the daylight, and can only come out at night; their massively enlarged eyes help them see clearly in the moonlight.

Sometimes referred to as “Welsh Indians”, the Moon-Eyed People are tied to man-made stone structures throughout the Southeast from Alabama northward.

So what happened to the Moon Eyed People? The story goes that they were eventually driven out of the area or driven underground for good, according to the lore of two different native tribes. Creek Indians in Georgia allegedly attacked the Moon Eyed People during a clear full moon that shone so bright, it was nearly daylight, leaving the Moon Eyed People blinded and defenseless. The Cherokee alternately drove them westward into Tennessee.

The next time you hear an owl screech, a story of the Wampus Cat, or see a porch painted haint blue, take a moment to consider the deeper meaning behind your experience. These are not just ghost stories, they are echoes of the past, reminders of the enduring power of people and folklore; whispers of a vast and vibrant history of culture and the power of storytelling. The mountains hold countless more stories, waiting to be told.

Written by: Andronike James

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Sources:

www.appalachianhistory.net

www.atlasobscura.com/articles/moon-eyed-people-appalachia

https://www.thesylvaherald.com/news/article_63be7a46-193a-11eb-bcb1-9b6452791b80.html

https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-americas/moon-eyed-people-0016334

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