Behind theTrees
A glimpse into the lore of the supernatural of the Appalachian Region
AppalachianFolklore
The stories of the supernatural that live among the Appalachian mountains in the Eastern part of the U.S. have been told for many years. This site will share some of the well known stories that are shared as well as their origins. Some of these stories have been passed down through the Native American tribes that were first living in the area. The oral tradition of telling these stories is meant to keep those who brave the wilderness of the Appalachians, safe from what is lurking in the trees.
What is out there?
The story of the Bell Witch is one that has remained infamous. The Bell Witch is a spirit that is said to be living on the Bell farm in Tennessee. An entity that terrorized the Bell family in many different ways including shaking the beds, sounds of wings flapping, choking noises, and even sometimes physically assaulting people. Some claim when the spirit first arrived it said "I am a Spirit; I once was very happy, but I have been disturbed and made unhappy. I am the Spirit of a person who was buried in the woods nearby and the grave was disturbed, my bones disinterred and scattered, and one of my teeth was lost under this house. I am here looking for that tooth." The spirit was not specific on who it attacked from family members to slaves and even those just passing by. Visitors come to see the Bell Witch Cave with the hopes of experiencing the spirit themselves.
Why have these stories remained?
The Appalachian region is located in an area of the United States that is historically religious. Many church leaders used stories of demons and monsters to deter their congregations from sinning. Church leaders would tell their followers that if they had God and went to church, they would be protected from the things that lurk in the dark. Naturally these stories spread and changed to fit different areas and their beliefs. Many areas of the Appalachian region are still prominently religious today.
Native American Origins
One might be curious if there are any Native American Ties to the folklore told in the Appalachian Region, and indeed there is. The Cherokee nation of North Carolina have legends of the Moon Eyed People and the Brown Mountain Lights. As history would tell us the Native Americans were here long before Europeans were, and the Cherokees tell of a people that came before them. As colonizers came into the area and settled down, the Native Americans shared their stories to explain the phenomena of the region. There is a statue made of soapstone that stands at the Cherokee County Historical Museum that was found in the 1800's, and is said to be of the Moon Eyed People.
How is it shared today?
While stories of what lies behind the trees in the Appalachian are still told in many of the same ways they once were, newer and larger scale methods are used as well. The National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee has been an annual event since 1973. Thousands of people travel to this festival from all over to hear and share their stories, including folklore of the Appalachian region. Here folklore from many different generations can be shared and spread so everyone learns of what is lurking behind the trees of the Appalachians.