New book explores WV folklore
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Writer Carol Ann Gillespie is interested in preserving the folk tales of her adopted state. |
February 22, 2010 ·
'Mountain Mist, Appalachian Folkways of West Virginia' by writer Dr. Carol Ann Gillespie is the culmination of years of research into the state’s traditions.
Gillespie is a Pennsylvania native who moved to West Virginia in the 1970's where she first started hearing some of the folk tales after meeting her husband and his family.
"I thought there is so much folk history and so much folk culture that's sort of fading away," Gillespie said. "So I thought I'm going to try and preserve these."
The book touches on habits, superstitions and food that were brought to Appalachia by some of the first Scots-Irish settlers. Gillespie says many of these traditions are part of the fabric of life in Appalachia today.
"I just thought it would be a very interesting thing to try and preserve this for our children," Gillespie said.
The book combines written material Gillespie has found with stories she's heard over the years. Gillespie hopes the book will give young people a sense of their history and will keep some of the traditions alive.
Gillespie is interested in collecting more stories. She invites anyone with a folk story to tell to contact her through her Web site:
mountainmists.com.