Contributed/Wikimedia Commons

We have discussed many superstitions in Appalachia that people still believe. Today, we’re going to be learning about more wives’ tales, where they come from, and what they mean. Hopefully, you know of some of these, and if not, you get to learn something new.

The first superstition is very prevalent in my household. It entails always leaving out the same door that you entered through, which dates back to our Greek origins. This is prevalent in Greece, but in Appalachia as well. It is said that leaving through a different door than the one you entered can bring bad luck not only to you but also to the household, washing the good luck that has already been collected within the home. Some families find it disrespectful, while others will simply joke about it.

Another superstition is not to take an old broom to a new place. Though the saying specifically says broom, many people believe that all cleaning products should be left behind or discarded when moving into a new place. This actually originated in China thousands of years ago, but it stays true within Appalachian culture as well. It is widely believed that these cleaning tools carry negative energy or bad luck from the old home. When moving, you discard these items and buy new ones; that way, you don’t bring problems from the old place into the new one, since a new home is supposed to be a completely clean slate. In Appalachian folklore, it goes a little deeper; sweeping or cleaning in general discards negative energy from the residence.

The next superstition dates back to a Roman writer who said that if your ears get hot, someone is most likely talking about you. Nowadays, you may hear this as if your ears are ringing, someone is talking about you, but it all comes from the same place. The Roman writer actually believed that depending on which ear is burning, it can signify what people are saying about you; if the left ear burns, it is negative talk, while the right is a sort of praise talk. In Appalachia, this is such a widespread belief that people actually came up with a solution. If you bite your tongue, the person who is speaking about you will accidentally bite theirs and therefore stop talking about you.

One superstition that I say and believe that many people aren’t aware of is that when you get a cold shiver completely out of nowhere, it means that someone is walking over your grave. This saying dates back a few hundred years to Irish roots, but among many Irish settlers who stayed in Appalachia, it became very popular in the region. It has different variations, including different animals, walking over your grave, such as a rabbit or a goose, but all of them mean the same thing: someone is walking over your future burial site.

The final wives’ tale we’re going to cover today is wind chimes keeping evil away. This superstition dates back to China roughly 3000 years ago, where windchimes or something very similar would be placed specifically in temples to scare away evil forces or people from entering the sacred place. Though windchimes can be made of almost anything, it is believed in these ancient Chinese practices that specifically metal wind chimes with a high-frequency sound and vibration will completely disrupt negative spirits. In warding off these evil spirits, it is also believed that they bring a peaceful atmosphere that, in return, brings good luck.

A lot of these superstitions and old wives’ tales originate from ancient sacred practices, which is important to remember when discussing them respectfully. Appalachia is a melting pot of many different backgrounds, which is why we have such sayings available and widely known. Have you heard of any of these old wives’ tales, and do you believe in them?

Author