Witchery in the Appalachians

[hounddoghowlie]

I knew some of these witches. Still do. They carry on a tradition that probably goes back thousands of years in it's roots, but as times change, practices do as well, somewhat. At it's roots are European witchery, but after the move to this area, Indian witchery was added in, and modified the practices somewhat.

Not practitioners of a particularly hidebound art, Appalachian Granny Women tend towards what works for them, rather than formulaic ritual.

ya'll git some pumkin heads runnin round up yonder form time to time do ya?



or maybe jealous jilted hillbille girls,

and it seems Stirling had a thing about spooky shit happening in the Appalachians, Jess Belle, The Grave, Still Valley, there are several more.

i think the best ones were the ones james best was in, although the one where the old man went coon  hunting with his  hound dog and drown was a good one.

ETA: i tried to find a video couldn't, go figure thousands and thousands (well maybe not that many) and not the first one with this scene. all i could find a quote that's at the end.

Briscoe Darling: Lets git outta here. You got witchery in your house.
Sheriff Andy Taylor: Just a little on my Mama's side. Don't hold it against me.
Briscoe Darling: Don't touch me, it might be catchy.

The Andy Griffith Show S5 E12 The Darlin Baby