© Pierburg 1b3 guideOct 01, 2014 · In one of her books, “Appalachian Folklore Omens, Signs and Superstitions,” Richmond defines superstition as a seemingly “irrational belief, arising from ignorance or fear, that is held by a number of people but is without foundation.” Superstitions are thought to influence coming events, despite any demonstrable correlation.
Storytelling is a tradition in Appalachia. Down through the decades, many Appalachian children and adults have spent nights on the front porch, gathered around an elder, listening to stories that have seldom found a place in written forklore. Most of the stories have been in oral format only. This is true for the Jack tales…