Survivals in Folkways
«•#
ei.i.i:k \vi\sro\
Probably no more in lores ting field
of research can be found in the south¬
ern highland country than the sur¬
vivals in folkways. Their persistence
well into the twentieth century was a
common phenomenon and here the lag
often carries one back to eighteenth
century customs. Geographical isola¬
tion formed what proved to be an
almost insurmountable barrier for
generations so that many folkways be¬
came deeply ingrained in the cultural
patterns of the homogeneous people of
the North Carolina mountains.
II
In examining the survivals in folk¬
ways as found throughout Swain
County a generation ago. one finds
many of them falling into rather defi¬
nite groups, suitable for classification.
In the realm of agriculture, the moon
was still regarded as a potent factor.
l;or tall growth, plant in the light of
the moon. Flowers should be planted
when the moon is full. Potatoes planted
in the light of the moon run to vine
instead of making tubers. Hence they
must be planted in the dark of the
moon, in February. Beans, pumpkins
and watermelons should be planted
when the sign is in the Arms. Herein
lay the forte of the popular almanac.
Although no explanation is offered, it
is known that the planting of sage in
the garden will bring bad luck. Ac¬
cording to Olive Tilford Dargan's ver¬
sion. secured from her mountain
neighbor, one must not sow sage un¬
less one wishes trouble, but one may
either set it out in bunches or got a
strange woman who is passing to sow
it. She is safe for she loses her trouble
as soon as she crosses water.
The moon played an important
function in other aspects of life be¬
sides agriculture. One must not roof
a house with boards during the light
of the moon, for if one does, the ends
will certainly "cup up." Neither should
one lay the worm of a rail fence in the
light of the moon because it will not
remain straight if one docs. If one
kills hogs when the moon is increasing
in size, the meat and lard will all fry
Fdiior's Noth: Dr. Ellen Win-
si on, haul
«I
I lie Nor ill Carolina De¬
partment of Welfare, is a native of
Swain ('on nt
у
.
Гог
her master's thesis
subject ill the University ol Chicago,
she chose her home county. One chap¬
ter in this thesis hail to ilo with certain
folkways of Oltl Swain, anil Dr. Win¬
ston has kindly permitted us to re¬
publish an abridged version of it here.
The reader should keep in mind
that the material reflects "survivals"
•is of a generation ago and shortly be¬
fore. It is not presented as a picture
of belief* held today.
away. I he state of the moon also
portends the weather. A circle around
the moon is a sign of a storm, while
the number of stars within the circle
indicates the number of days before
the storm will break. When the moon
is hooked up so one can hang a powder
horn on it. dry weather will follow.
When it is tipped up so water will run
out. it is known as a wet moon.
III
The mountain minister of an earlier
day would be scorned if he had to
depend on notes as he faced his con¬
gregation. Only in the more remote
churches did the men and women sit
decorously on opposite sides of the
church, but the practice was by no
means abandoned as late as the
1920's Some of the members were
still opposed to organs as “sinful." The
male leader of the singing pitched the
tune for the hymn (which men and
women alike sang in a high-pitched,
strongly-accented treble) with a tun¬
ing fork. Part singing was unknown. In
the country churches, shouting and
bodily contortions, though they had
lost some of their fervor, still persisted.
Bapti/ings in the cold mountain
streams followed the church services.
Sabbath observance was rigorous.
IV
Those who were not restrained by
religious scruples attended the occa¬
sional country dances. Someone who
could call the figures was in great de¬
mand. The fiddlers roused the dancers
with their vigorous tunes and the gam¬
bol was on. In a slightly earlier period,
the couple "clinched" and danced until
exhaustion forced them to stop.
Another amusement was chicken
fighting. Game chickens were formerly
raised to be fought, but the interest
has decreased. Similarly, shooting for
beef and for turkey were favorite
sports up to the turn of the century,
but they too have declined rapidly.
In turkey shooting, one shoots at the
head at forty yards distance, and at
one hundred and seventy-five yards
or so. one shoots at the entire turkey.
The one who hits the turkey wins it
as the prize.
'Possum hunting is still frequently
indulged in. Dccr hunting lias died out
due to the extinction of the species,
but bear hunting is still a sport. And
then there are the wild hogs. The ob¬
jects of prey arc "razorbacks" that
have been turned loose in the forests
to breed and grow fat on acorns.
Practically wild, as they arc. their
hunting is not without danger.
V
Courtship and weddings in the more
remote areas have retained some of
the old flavor. "At thirteen. Fvvic was
talking to’ Clevc Saunders." "Talking
to" indicates courtship of a serious
sort. These courtships arc frequently
brief as youth still forms fairly slight
barriers to matrimony in remote areas.
Weddings take place at home rather
than in a church though the local
justice of the peace has become in¬
creasingly popular. Such customs as
the guests riding around the bride’s
home before entering have passed
away. The attendants of the bride and
groom, usually one for each, are
knowm colloquially as "waiters." The
customary feast at the home of the
groom, following the ceremony, is
known as the infarc. Sometimes this
is deferred until the second or third
day. being preceded by a celebration
at the home of the bride. Honcvmoons
in
THE STATE. NOVCMBCK 6. 1954
