Category: Traditional Tales

Posted on

Big Fraid and Little Fraid

Today we tell a tale from southwest Virginia about a man, his young son, and the family’s cows, which the son tended during the day up in the mountains.  

That man tried to teach his boy a lesson in being home on time.  That’s NOT how things turned out, however.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast.  We’re on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Goodpods or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

Thanks for listening and….

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Posted on

Krampus: The Dark Side of Christmas

Did you know that Christmas has a dark side? It does, at least in some parts of not just Appalachia but around the world, in the form of a shaggy, horned man-goat named Krampus!

If you want to catch all our tale from Appalachia, be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast.  We’re on your favorite podcast app!

Merry Christmas…and, uh, sweet Christmas dreams, y’all!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Posted on

Ashpet

Today’s tale comes from Wise County, Virginia, by way of the Palatinate region of what’s now Germany, from which the ancestors of many of today’s Appalachian people came.

It’s an Appalachian retelling of the German story “Ashenputel,” which was also the source for the story we all know as “Cinderella.”

Don’t miss any of our stories by subscribing to the MountainLore podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Posted on

The Bride and Groom of Mt. Pisgah

We are back from Christmas break with a new bit of folklore for you!

If you’re in the Asheville, North Carolina, area when it snows, look up at nearby Mr. Pisgah.  There you’ll see what looks like the image of a man and a woman, known locally as the bride and the groom.

That name comes from an old folklore told in that part of North Carolina for years; today, we’ll share that tale with you.

You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast in many ways: on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Spotify, Audible, Goodpods, RadioPublic or on your favorite podcatcher or podcast app.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Posted on

Escape Up The Tree

What do you get when you combine a brother and sister, three dogs, including one who talks, and a wildman?  

A traditional tale from Alabama, which we share with you today!

Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast, at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, Audacy, IHeart Radio, RadioPublic, Stitcher, or on your favorite podcast app.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Posted on

The Husband Who Minded The House

What happens when a grumpy old husband and his long-suffering wife swap chores for a day?  Well, click that button and listen to our tale to find out!

We’d appreciate it if you’d subscribe to the MountainLore podcast, at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, Stitcher, RadioPublic, Amazon Music and pretty much anywhere you find fine podcasts.

We’re also on YouTube!  Be sure to click that “Subscribe” button and give us a thumbs up, if you’ve a mind to.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners!

Subscribe at Apple Podcasts.

Listen to [MountainLore] on RadioPublic

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Posted on

Rabbit Tales

Today we share three traditional Cherokee stories about that trickster, the Rabbit.

Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, RadioPublic, Spotify, TuneIn and on most other podcast apps.

You can also like and subscribe on our YouTube channel, Stories, A History of Appalachia.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

Subscribe at Apple Podcasts.

Listen to [MountainLore] on RadioPublic

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Posted on

The Raven Mocker

Today we tell the story of the Cherokee witch known as the Raven Mocker, which goes around stealing years from the sick by eating their hearts.  

You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic, Stitcher, Spotify, IHeart Radio or at our website: mountainlore.net.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

Subscribe at Apple Podcasts.

Listen to [MountainLore] on RadioPublic

Listen on Google Play Music

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Posted on

The Siren Of The French Broad River

Beware the siren’s call or you might find yourself adrift forever in the French Broad River…

The MountainLore podcast is available, for free, on most podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RadioPublic, TuneIn and Spotify.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

Subscribe at Apple Podcasts.

Listen to [MountainLore] on RadioPublic

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Posted on

The Origin of Disease

Many years ago, according to the legends of the Cherokee, there was no disease in these mountains and all the animals, plants and people lived in harmony.  But as the number of people increased, issues arose with the animals, and those animals decided to take matters into their own hands.  Today we tell you that tale from Appalachia.

You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast, free, at RadioPublic, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or on any number of podcast apps.

We’re on Twitter and Facebook @myappalachia.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

Subscribe at Apple Podcasts.

Listen to [MountainLore] on RadioPublic

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS