Appalachian History

Hoo-ray Jake and Hoo-ray John, Breakin’ Up Christmas all night long Way back yonder a long time ago The old folks danced the do-si-do. Way down yonder alongside the creek I seen Santy Claus washin’ his feet. Santa Claus come, done and gone, Breakin’ Up Christmas right along. The “Breakin’ Up Christmas” tradition is credited [...]

Jesus, Jesus, rest your head. You have got a manger bed. All the evil folk on earth, Sleep in feathers at their birth. (But) Jesus, Jesus, rest your head. You have got a manger bed. Have you heard about our Jesus? Have you heard about his fate? How his mother came to the stable, On [...]

DECEMBER 1915 FRIDAY 24 “Well, the chittlings, a part of them Alice sent over by Pete. They were intestines cleaned ready to cut into short pieces to fry. I told Tillie she needn’t fry any for me. They stood in water two or three days and by that time they were smelling like ‘all get [...]

Up until the second World War, if a Shenandoah Valley [VA] family was a member of the Lutheran or Reformed church, the children could expect a Christmas Eve visit from the Belsnickle. The practice might even go well beyond just one evening, running for nearly two weeks, starting a week before Christmas and continuing until [...]

JOSEPH was an old man,And an old man was he,When he wedded MaryIn the land of Galilee. Joseph and Mary walk’dThrough an orchard good,Where was cherries and berriesSo red as any blood. Joseph and Mary walk’dThrough an orchard green,Where was berries and cherriesAs thick as might be seen. O then bespoke Mary,So meek and so [...]