Comments on: The bottle tree http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/10/bottle-tree.html Stories, quotes and anecdotes. Sun, 19 May 2013 20:12:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: bob harris http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/10/bottle-tree.html#comment-1109283 bob harris Fri, 30 Nov 2012 21:04:10 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2008/10/the-bottle-tree/#comment-1109283
    i dont think slaves or arabs started the bottle tree; why is it people try to inject these groups into everything? Peleg started it after the land was divided.
    Look that up.

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/10/bottle-tree.html#comment-923234 Stephanie Tue, 10 Jul 2012 20:20:37 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2008/10/the-bottle-tree/#comment-923234 I don’t think anyone is trying to “push” voodoo or slaves ritual myths , just to shed a little light on how the bottle tree arrived into the US. As humans we are fascinated by our connections to the past and because there isn’t much written material about bottle trees here in the states, only verbal memories and theories, it’s safe to say it’s a form of folk art and folklore. But in the US itself her history is deeply rooted in the south and amongst African Americans in particular. I don’t think you could argue that it was in fact African people who exercised the artistic creation of these sculptures and proudly displayed them around the perimeter of their home. Maybe some did engage in voodoo, just like there are some people who exercise witchcraft today but overall I think it was just a way to decorate with what you had available and also a distant connection that certain people had to their ancestors. Kinda like the feeling that a Christmas tree gives us. Makes us feel sentimental, makes us smile with all of the color and details but not many people can tell you how the Christmas tree came about. All we know is that we just plain like it.

]]> By: felder http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/10/bottle-tree.html#comment-896732 felder Fri, 22 Jun 2012 17:03:16 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2008/10/the-bottle-tree/#comment-896732 sorry, but glass bottles for repelling spirits were not first used by 9th century africans, they were widely used by mediterreanean (north africa) and arabic cultures for over 3000 years – remember aladdin and the genii in the lamp? predates Congo by a couple of millenia… pliease stop pushing this fanciful “slave/voodoo” myth about ancient bottle trees…

]]> By: Amy@ReadtomyHearts http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/10/bottle-tree.html#comment-889891 Amy@ReadtomyHearts Mon, 18 Jun 2012 18:09:54 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2008/10/the-bottle-tree/#comment-889891 Someone that lives down the road from me has one of those and thanks to you I now know what it is. I love history and your site is amazing!!

]]> By: Sandy http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/10/bottle-tree.html#comment-769413 Sandy Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:06:25 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2008/10/the-bottle-tree/#comment-769413 another reason to pop the cork on another bottle of wine!

]]> By: Looking Ahead « Do you suppose she is a wild flower? http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/10/bottle-tree.html#comment-97006 Looking Ahead « Do you suppose she is a wild flower? Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:59:23 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2008/10/the-bottle-tree/#comment-97006 [...] and not some gardener’s cheap idea of decoration.  Bottle trees (in America, at least) are leftover evidence of African tribal beliefs brought by slaves to the New World – although it is also noted that folk traditions from [...]

]]> By: wendyvee http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/10/bottle-tree.html#comment-48234 wendyvee Fri, 17 Dec 2010 03:26:55 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2008/10/the-bottle-tree/#comment-48234 I stumbled upon your site and wanted to compliment you on some really great material.

I have seen bottle trees several times in my life but this is the first time that I’ve read an explanation of them :)

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