Appalachian Christmas Traditions

In the heart of Appalachia, Christmas is a blend of familiar holiday traditions and unique folk beliefs that have been passed down through generations. Join us as we tell about “Old Christmas,” along with the fascinating folklore that surrounds this special time of year.

Catch our tales on our YouTube channel!

Sweet dreams of Christmas, y’all…

The Tragic Tale of Octavia Hatcher

In the hills of eastern Kentucky, a grave marker tells a tale of sorrow and legend. The statue of Octavia Hatcher, said to come to life on Halloween, weeps in eternal grief. Journey back to the 1890s as we tell the tragic story of Octavia’s untimely death, her mysterious illness, and the chilling discovery made after her burial.

Here’s the link to the episode, since we aren’t able to embed it on the website for some reason.

Be sure to like and leave a comment, and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

Krampus: The Dark Side of Christmas

Christmas is coming, and with it is a tale that tells the darker side of the holiday season. In this episode of MountainLore, we explore the folklore of Krampus, the half-goat, half-demon creature that punishes naughty children, a tradition brought to Appalachia by German settlers.

Join us on our YouTube channel as we uncover how this sinister figure has been both celebrated and banned throughout history, and how it has found a place in the dark hollows of Appalachia.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners, and Merry Christmas, y’all…

The Ghost Stalker: A Tale of Unrequited Love

This week on our YouTube channel, we tell a tale of a rejected love.

In the quiet mountains of North Carolina, a young man named Bobby finds himself entangled in a haunted romance from beyond the grave with a woman who tragically died after he ended their relationship.

Be sure to like, comment and subscribe to the MountainLore podcast so you don’t miss any of our stories.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

The House of the Vanishing Chains

This week on our YouTube Channel:

In a small Appalachian community, an old house stood as a relic of the coal era, untouched and avoided due to its eerie reputation. Enter Bill Farmer, a man with deep roots in the area, who returned wealthy and determined to restore the house to its former glory. His ambitious renovation transformed the decaying structure into a magnificent modern home, yet it awakened something sinister within.

That’s our story this week.

Be sure to like, comment and subscribe for more tales from Appalachia.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

The Black Cat of Hawk’s Nest

In the heart of Appalachia, folklore weaves tales as mysterious as the misty mountains themselves. This week on our YouTube channel, we tell the chilling legend of Polly Gentry, a rumored witch who lived atop Hawk’s Nest mountain, who had an enigmatic black cat, a creature whispered to be something more.

Join us as we tell this bit of Appalachian lore.

Be sure to like, comment and subscribe to the MountainLore podcast.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

The Spirit of the Dark Hollow Cemetery

In the shadowy mists on Roan Mountain, straddling the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, lies a tale of mystery and supernatural intrigue. At the heart of this tale is Dorinda, a woman whose allure captivated the men of her community.

Her affairs with married men sparked outrage and tragedy, culminating in the mysterious death of one of her lovers, Mister Jenkins. As rumors swirled about her involvement and her absence from his funeral, an eerie presence was noted around his casket, leading to strange occurrences that began to plague those traveling past his final resting place, the Dark Hollow Cemetery.

Could Dorinda have been a witch, a restless spirit, or perhaps a bit of both?

This week on our YouTube channel, we tell the tale of the Dark Hollow Cemetery, another tale from Appalachia.

Sweet dreams, y’all…

Screaming Jenny: The Haunting of Harper’s Ferry

Tales abound about ghosts spotted in tunnels, houses, churches, or in the woods. But the sighting of ghosts in Appalachia often involves the railroads that have been the lifeblood of this region.

This week on our YouTube channel, discover the tragic story of Jenny, a woman whose heartbreak led her to a fiery end on the railroad tracks near Harper’s Ferry. Engineers have since reported seeing her ghostly, flaming presence, a blazing fireball hurtling toward their trains on cold nights.

Be sure to like, comment and subscribe for more tales from Appalachia.

Sweet dreams…

The Three Ghostly Sisters of Christiansburg

It’s said that evil haunts Christiansburg, Virginia, in the form of the ghosts of three sisters dressed in black, bringing death and destruction trailing behind.

This week on our YouTube channel, discover the eerie tale of the Wardlaw sisters, who brought order and prestige to educational institutions only to leave them in ruins, surrounded by rumors of insanity, witchcraft, and murder. From their mysterious rituals in cemeteries to the suspicious deaths that followed them, the legend of these sinister siblings continues to haunt the region.

Sweet dreams…

Madness at Rocky Ravine: The Witch Diggers’ Tale


A man returned from the Civil War to help his siblings on their farm, only to spiral into a madness that turned them all into witch diggers.

Discover the eerie tale of the Bichler family, whose descent into insanity led them to believe they were surrounded by witches. From mysterious figures in the moonlight to relentless digging in Rocky Ravine, this story reveals a chilling blend of ghostly apparitions and mental torment.

Are the sightings of a wild man in the ravine the restless spirit of Nick Bichler, forever hunting witches?

Be sure to like, comment and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Thanks for listening!

Sweet dreams, y’all…