September 16, 2021
Storytelling is a huge component of Appalachian culture, you might even say it’s the cornerstone of the entire cultural foundation.
We tell stories to explain the way we live, we tell stories to instruct others, we tell stories to remind us of those who came before us.
I watched an episode of The Waltons with Granny the other day. John Boy said the stories of the Walton family had been told so many times they all knew them by heart. I was reminded of John Prine’s song “Paradise.” My favorite line from the song is: “There’s a backwards old town that’s often remembered So many times that my memories are worn.”
Both John Prine and John Boy are right. Family stories get told over and over until each member can recite them verbatim, yet we continue to tell them.
Blind Pig reader Ed Karshner left this comment several years ago.
“I wanted to speak to your post yesterday. I wanted to say something, then but I needed to study on it. I’m glad you tell these stories and you should never tire or feel strange about sharing stories about your father. For us, people of Appalachia, stories are how we keep those most important things alive. I read once that humans aren’t born with instincts to survive, instead we are born with the ability to tell stories. In that very old Germanic tradition that, I think, has influenced Appalachian storytelling, we don’t have a future…just a past and a right now. When we tell those stories, that person (or people or event) is brought into the now and lives just as real as if they were physically breathing. They are here now (in the story) to instruct us, love us, and make us smile. This is why I tell my children about my grandparents, great aunts and uncles, friends every chance I get. Not just to make them live again for my kids but also for me. I don’t think it is stretching it to say that storytelling about our ancestors is like spending time with them. I feel that way.”
One of the most common Appalachian traits is being family centered. Everything revolves around family and those family ties run farther than just immediate family. It extends to uncles, aunts, cousins, and in-laws. And oftentimes those family members aren’t even real family members, they’re close friends who feel like family.
Part of our longing to talk about the past is related directly to those tight family ties that hold us together even beyond the grave. As Ed so rightly pointed out, it keeps those who have long gone on alive and near to us. But our storytelling nature is also used to influence our future.
The stories we tell, some of which are generations old, offer a road map to our children, grandchildren, and community.
I was reminded of the old post above last week when I heard a local preacher tell a few stories and then say he had one more story to tell before he left. He is such a friendly man that I smiled when he spoke of one more story. But as I listened to him I thought to myself, “It only makes sense that you have stories to tell because like me, you come from a long line of storytellers.”
Last night’s video: Putting Up Some of the Last of the Garden Stuff.
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I’ve been watching Tipper’s and the girls Utube channels for a long time. Then I discovered her wonderful blog. I started watching her because I was interested in learning about Appalachia. I read all of your comments every blog. They are amazing! Funny and sometimes sad but always entertaining. Thank you Tipper & her blog followers. From a Grammy from Texas
My father’s side were English and Scotch Irish and they were wonderful story tellers. Even as a child, I recall seeing the story teller sit back, maybe squirm a bit in the chair and then raise their head to begin sharing. It always involved little back stories and side stories and insights into the moment. Why, they would even share the way the sky looked or the smells in the air at that time. I would sit back much like I do now as a movie or television show begins and prepare myself for a story. I read one of the replies that referenced laughing so hard that it would bring tears. I am so grateful for that memory. Grateful to you too, Tipper. You bring back many memories of family, recipes and how good people can be.
I always loved to go visit my family in Rockingham, NC. After a delicious meal, we would go in the living room or in the porch. My mother had 4 sisters. They would get to talking about their childhood, my Grandpa & Grandma, their community. Some of the stories were sad and some so funny we would laugh so hard. Now that I am a Mom & Grandma I hear myself telling these stories. Families are a gift from God! Prayers for all! Take care and God bless ❤️
My mother is a WWII war bride from London England. She came to a strange part of the United States compared to her city life in London. Even though she endured seeing her home bombed, she came to a very small town in the mountains of North Carolina. She had never seen farm animals or worked a garden. Then she and my dad moved into a small house in the country which isolated he even more. She used to iron the clothes sitting on a high stool (she is only 5′ tall ) in the front yard under a tree for shade with a loooong extention cord plugged into an outlet in the house. We used to sit in the grass at her feet listening to stories of her home and her childhood before the war. It was a time of hearing of a country we could hardly understand but her stories put us in another world . I now know how it helped her with her home sickness and kept us entertained. We had no TV or Books. We lived a distance from any library. We still tell those stories to now, our grand children.
Great topic. My daddy was the oldest of 11 children.
So I have 40+ first cousins on his side that I grew up. We all lived within about a 5 mile radius on the old family farm. It was definitely the “raised by a village” concept. I think I was raised like kids were “in the old days”! I have enough stories to write many books!
I am so glad you mentioned John Prine. His songs are awesome. He was a true wordsmith & also had a life time of stories to tell. I have seen videos of Katie & Corie doing some of his songs. They are VERY GOOD!
I love to hear the old stories. Please keep them coming. They are a true blessing for the soul.
God bless you friends of Appalachia ❤️
When I was a kid telling a story was tantamount to telling a lie. “You better not tell me a story” was a common phrase. It was an indication the me that my mother already knew the answer to her next question. Why she hesitated at the word “lie” I, to this day, do not understand. I’m sure there is something Biblical to it, but I haven’t been able to find an explanation for it in the Bible.
I’ve always loved hearing stories about my family, especially on my mother’s side. They were always pulling pranks and the stories that were told would make you laugh until you cried. I had an older cousin that passed away a few months ago and one of his best friends spoke at the service and wanted to share some of the stories about him and his brothers and the whole church was laughing. The preacher said as sad as his passing was, the stories would be what we remembered and that is exactly what he would have wanted. On my husband’s side of the family, it’s basically the same way. We still talk about the all the stories we heard and now the next generation wants to hear them, and the cycle continues, and I am grateful for that. If you want a good laugh on a down day, just remember those good, old stories.
Storytelling was a big part of my family from both of my parents people. My daughter grew up hearing most our stories and I’ve tried to keep them stories living when I share them with my granddaughter. Sadly since my family on both my parents sides are all passed I don’t hear the stories retold as they were in the past. As I get older I realize our family is getting smaller in head counts. I feel as time goes on, which it will there will be no one who cares to tell the stories from our family. It’s a wonderful thing Tipper that your children are very interested in keeping your family culture and stories alive. Plus through your blog, YouTube videos and cookbook, your stories along with many others family stories will continue on for many, many generations to come. You truly are a great storyteller, thank you!
When I was younger I used to tell made up stories to my cousins. My uncle was also a raconteur of tales, he would tell stories of local entertainers, he was in the musicians union. I don’t remember any of the stories I told. Stories have a tendency to be passed down through the generations through oral and written history. Sending best wishes to Katie and her upcoming blessed event and also prayers for Granny on her MRI screening.
I was very blessed to have an aunt (my fathers sister) that loved to tell stories. She introduced me to a grandmother I never had as she died during WW2, long before we were born. The stories were many, and I loved hearing them over and over again. I couldn’t tell you how many laughs we shared. The stories were so vivid that I felt like I wanted to be taking part in all her shenanigans as a child! One of the stories was how my grandmother loved to make her own homemade pasta. On these days she would have pasta hanging everywhere to dry, tables, beds over chairs, wherever there was a flat surface. Because of that I had a desire to start learning how to make it as well, thankfully my grandkids and friends love it! Now it’s my turn to tell my grandkids all these wonderful stories!
I love how Ed said ‘I don’t think it is stretching it to say that storytelling about our ancestors is like spending time with them. I feel that way.” I feel that way too! Thank you
All so very true; especially when all known family is gone. My memories are wonderfully worn. RIP John Prine.
I always loved to sit in a family gathering and listen to the stories. I have learned so much family history this way. Like everything else, there are good things and some not so good things. But they are still treasured in my heart. Relatives I never met come to life when I think of these stories. And relatives I knew are kept alive through the stories. Never miss an opportunity to listen to a story even if you have heard it multiple times.
I love storytelling! I get such a kick out of my Dad telling stories of his younger days running moonshine or my Uncle Argie’s mules named Pat and Ader (with a long A). In my Mamaw and Papa family they talked about a man named Went Bean. He tired to fly by making wings and jumping off the roof. His wife was so excited she just new he could do it. She had alot of faith in her man! My husband helps build the computer systems for Nasa’s new Rocket but I don’t think it would be comforting if I saw him on the roof with paper wings! Lol
Storytelling, whether you are writing, telling or just listening is good for the soul.
Stories are who we are. My husband makes a story out of anything he is telling me at the time, even the most mundane events of his day. I think he doesn’t even realize he does it.
Hi Tipper, I share stories Mum and Dad told me with my cousins. Usually they’re funny stories so I call them the Family Funnies. I hope that all of them save those stories for their kids and grandkids
Telling and retelling not only preserves our history but also preserves our identities. Those stories educate children and grandchildren in the ways of right and wrong. How to avoid doing those things that harm us and how to repeat those things that uplift us. George Santayana stated “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Storytelling is a means of learning; of teaching common sense; and of maintaing a continuity of progress in doing what is right.
Sadly too many today have passed that important storytelling rite over to the television and movies which are full of questionable stories. I firmly believe that parents and grandparents should turn off the electronics and sit down face to face with the children; interact with them and answer their questions. For that is how God designed us to learn and to grow and to love.
Okay, sermon over LOL. Obviously you touched on an important topic to me.
I admire most your ability to weave. Story becomes a web of stories and somehow across space and time the subjects of those tales take form yet again and speak with ethereal voice from beyond the boundary of separation. Weave then and leave a beautiful tapestry, the stuff of legacy.
I had to comment on this one. I too come from a long line of storytellers. we lived fairly remote and it didn’t take much for the power to go out. Those 2 television stations were of upmost importance.
My grandmother would light the kerosene lamps and tell me of my ancestors. We lived on the same farm that was settled 250 years before me. At times I could see and feel the old ones still there looking after me. Her stories along with the ability to walk the same paths they did made her stories come to life. Now I tell many of the same stories she told me. Stories tell you who you are. They are important even now , maybe even more so.
I love to tell and to listen to stories about our past. Dad would sit and tell us stories about when he was in the army over and over. It got so I think we knew the stories as good as he did. Mom never did talk much about the past, but I sure wish she did. And when I was younger, I wasn’t much interested about it, but I am now that I’m older. I remember the time she just up and told me one day that when I was a baby they passed me through a horse’s collar to cure me of an ailment. I just stood there in disbelief instead of asking for all the details. Oh, how I wish I could go back in time and ask for all the details. I would love to know more about that story. I tell my kids about things that happened in my past every chance I get (even if they might not want to be bored by it), because I think some day when they are older. they’ll be glad I did.
I loved hearing stories from my folks. I was fortunate to have a mother ( one of nine kids) with a rough and tumble childhood in Kentucky that she loved to talk about. Funny stories. Spooky stories like Ol’ Raw Head and Bloody Bones. Childhood adventures and perspectives- “How would a body ever get to Washington, DC?” Daddy was from Roaring Creek, NC, a beloved rascal whose five sisters doted on him. His stories left me laughing, wondering, sleeping with the light on. I came to know his childhood buddies through his fond related memories. Some of the stories took him from childhood to WWII where, sadly, he lost some of those best friends. My entire extended family had lots of stories that captured my attention. They knew HOW to tell. I still tell some to anyone who cares to listen. My daughter grew up with these stories as best as I can remember them. To my great joy, she has set down some in her excellent writing style. I love a storied person.
Richard
My maternal grandmother used to tell my younger sister and me stories about her life on the various farms and life on the plains. My aunt told stories, too, which kept her mind busy recalling times gone by.
My father also told stories of our family history. I can only say, that I have for the most part failed my legacy. My children were not interested in story telling. They still aren’t and they are grandparents themselves. They live in the now. That’s kinda scary. When we are ignorant of the past, we make mistakes that have to be learned all over again.
Kate, my children and now my grandchildren will tease me and say every time we ride somewhere with you, you will be telling us about something you did or used to be there. One the joys of my life was bird hunting (bobwhite quail), anytime we pass by a certain place, one of them will say before I can, Daddy or Papa shot his first bird he killed over a pointing dog in that field. Now my son is starting to tells things that were there in the past times of his life. I tell him “watch out, you are beginning to show your age. The trick to telling and making them listen to your stories is to tell the stories while they are riding in the car with you going down the road at 55 mph, so far I haven’t had any of them jump out of the car.
Oh, Randy…had to laugh. The only person I had ‘captive’ was my first granddaughter. And she really was young. Birth to age 10. But at that time, my focus was on Bible Scriptures and hymns…to hide God’s Word in her heart that she would know. With my kids, I worked the night shift and didn’t get to drive them at high speeds when we were living in a busy city, Miami FL.
Eventually we got to move to a rural area. It was then, things really got crazy. Guess I will need to put together a small book so those interested can read & learn, if they aren’t too occupied with their phones & gaming devices or catering to their kids.
I have never tried pepper jelly on cornbread..that is a new one on m3 and you know I gotta try it at least once. It was so hard to break the ‘sugar’ habit but you guys made it look sooo good. Matt seemed to be the most ‘enjoyinger’ of you three…I know that isn’t a proper word, but hey. As for the story telling time or tale telling time, some are so great and entertaining, who cares, right? I am sure you are gathering seeds for the next planting as a lot of us are. Seems like it never ends and prayerfully it won’t. After watching a program on you tube called, Seed; The Untold Story, seeds saving and swapping and gathering is becoming more and more important. The GMO and Monsanto part make it so scary for the future generations. We as a concerned parent and grandparent can’t be sure of our future. Prayers for Granny and you guys. God Bless
Today’s post describes me to a “tee”, I love to tell stories about about my past life and listen to others tell stories about their lives. I have went to the same church all of my life, and so have a lot of the other members, we like to stand around after the Sunday night service and tell stories about things we did in the past while growing up together at this church. ONE story that always gets told about me is about me climbing out the windows during the summertime of our Sunday School room at our old church building. The paragraph about our lives being family centered is very true and meaningful to me. I loved being with ALL of the family members mentioned, not only in my family but my wife’s family as well. My reason for saying outside on my relationship with God, nothing in life more important or valuable than time spent with family and friends. I too long for the past times with my family and friends now that many have passed on. My father in law would say “you know you are old when more of your family and lifelong friends are underground than are still above the ground.” Now I realize I am fastly getting to that age.
Every culture and tribe needs its tribal storytellers.