Aunt Mo and Tommy Lee Norton: When there was a dance, our parents would let us stay out until 12 A.M. The kind of dancing we did was square dancing. That was all we knew how to do. We didn’t dress up for our dances, we just wore anything we had. Usually we had somebody who would play all the time for the dancers. We would go in and move everything out of the way. Then after we finished, we would put everything back. We always went rabbit hunting on Christmas or the day before Christmas. The hunting trip would be all day long. That was the thing to do. We’d have brothers, brothers-in-law, and friends that would go. I didn’t eat the rabbit, though, I don’t like rabbit.”
Bass and Lucy Hyatt: After I got big enough to spark, we went to dances. Sometimes they’d have them on New Year’s Eve. Had them at people’s houses, you know. We’d have corn shuckings, and then that night we’d have a big dance at the house. Maybe a candy pulling or a candy breaking. People got their corn gathered and their fall work done, and everybody in the community would get together at somebody’s house. They would give us a room to have a dance in. They’d have plenty of ’em to make music. They’d take time about playing instruments and then dancing. Everybody would ride out to the farm where the dance was, tie their horses up out there. And some would come in a buggy, maybe. We’d sit up and wait for New Years.
Louise Coldren: The houses were small, and some people did not have a living room they could dance in, but we would take the bed down. They would have a fiddler, and after each set we put a nickel or dime in the hat to pay the fiddler. We had wonderful music, and we danced and had a great time. There was always refreshments at everybody’s house: cakes, cider, or hot chocolate. We sometimes would have a sack full of candy. Then a boy would reach downward and get a piece. If he got the same kind of candy that the girl had picked, they they could take a walk together. When it snowed, thirty to forty people came and brought their sleds over to go sledding. The men and boys made our sleds. The snow on the ground would freeze, and we would slide on that. We would sled all night long by firelight. We would come home, dry our clothes, and go back out.
—A Foxfire Christmas
I always enjoying reading memories of folks from Appalachia, but it is especially nice when I come across a name that I recognize. Bass Hyatt grew up right here in Brasstown and in fact he lives here yet.
Today’s Thankful November giveaway is a used copy of A Foxfire Christmas. Leave a comment on this post to be entered. *Giveaway ends December 4, 2024.
I sure do appreciate everyone who has participated in this year’s Thankful November. I’ll be sharing the rest of the winners in the coming days.
Last night’s video: The Thread That Runs So True 30.
Tipper
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I think it’s precious how if they picked the same piece of candy they went for a walk together. 🙂
I also love reading about people’s lives from a previous time! We need to get back to simpler way of life!
I love square dancing. My Appalachian Mother used to love to watch square dancing at the Grand Ole Opry on Television many many years ago. She always said she wanted to go to the Grand Ole Opry sometime in her life. She and I took a tour bus and had a fantastic time. I wouldn’t take any amount of money for the memories and the pictures we made there. It was beautiful and wonderful that Christmas. We didn’t see any square dancing there when we went but it was a wonderful trip for sure. I still love square dancing and I guess I always will.
You are so generous with all these give always! Hope you Mr family had a blessed thanksgiving!
foxfire books hold great memories!
What wonderful times to live in! I’d love to read this book.
The “Foxfire” books stir memories of yesterday. It was a much simpler and less complicated time ……
I enjoy reading the Foxfire books but I don’t believe I have ever read this one. My Dad used to have several of these books, I asked him where they were at but he couldn’t remember if he gave them away or what. I subscribe to the Foxfire magazine and hope to visit their museum sometime.
What lovely memories of simpler times. I like reading about the sense of community in days gone by. Nowadays neighbors do they’re own thing and rarely get together.
I love to read these stories. I sometimes wish I could go back and live in the era these folks are from. I grew up with some of the similar ways. Thanks Tipper.
The Foxfire books sound really interesting to read. Thank you, Tipper, for sharing the stories. God bless.
If only we could go back to simpler, slower times. But as Tipper says, we wouldn’t have a lot of our modern conveniences.
I can bet they all had the best of times back then. I can remember when rabbit was used in Brunswick stew, it made the best stew I have ever ate. They don’t use rabbit in the stew these days. God bless Granny and the Wilson and Pressley families.
Community just meant more in the past. I hope one day we are to see a swing back in that direction. Enjoyed the read today.
I have enjoyed all the grateful memories. Have a wonderful Christmas season.
While reading this, I was thinking, “Where was I for Thankful November and missed all of these?” In the hospital and recovering, for part of it! So, I am VERY thankful to get back to reading BPA!
Charline-sorry you’ve been in the hospital but so happy you are home and feeling better!!
Oh what fun it would be to read this Foxfire Christmas book during the upcoming season. A little skiff of snow here for us today and much heavier north of us. I wonder what kind of winter it will be.
Foxfire. I was gifted a volume in the 1980’s and grew so interested in the folklore, folk remedies and folkways of Appalachia that, I over time, acquired the entire library of Foxfire books. I read them all. The interest came from seeing a Broadway show entitled Foxfire in the late 1970’s. Anyway, I lost the entire collection in an apartment fire while living in New York and have not gotten back around to recollecting the library. But I reckon the books are what drew me to you and The Blind Pig and are probably the reason your work resonates with me. Thanks for the reminder.
I’ve enjoyed Thankful November month this year. A Christmas Foxfire book would be a nice read in addition to the few I have. Thank you for giving everyone a chance to receive all the treasures you’ve provided this month.
That sounds like an interesting read.
Always enjoy Blind Pig and then reading all the comments from others. Can identify with many.
Thank you for all the work you do.
We have forgotten the true blessings of the season.
I am so thankful for the wonderful memories of the good ole days. We didn’t have Christmas dances, but we did have get-togethers as we call them. Every year right before Christmas, a bunch of family would come over and we would all pile into cars and drive into town to see the Christmas lights and decorations. It was a magical night that was enjoyed by all. I remember my brother always shooting mistletoe out of a tree for us and anyone else that wanted it and if we were lucky enough to have snow, sledding on an old round metal Coke sign turned upside down. I wish our young ones had those kinds of memories. I am also reminded of the song by the Judds, Grandpa, tell me bout the good ole days. I have a granddaughter that loves for me to talk about my childhood memories, and I am happy to do it.
My parents square danced at the school cafeteria. in between games of hide-and-seek, climbing on the monkey bars, & pretending to smoke the stubs the men thought they had ground out with the heels of their boots during breaks, we (mostly the girls) would sometimes dance our version of square dancing on the playground. We might join hands skipping in a big circle, hook elbows & take a spin, or do a semblance of a “do si do” with whoever was if a like mind.
During my Jr. Hi years, parents of one of my fellow students sponsored square dances for the youth. They owned a motor lodge and would clear the parking area mid-week for the dances. Their weekend guests were gone & their longer term guests obligingliy moved their cars (if they had one), then pulled a chair from their room to watch.
They would occasionally comment, cheer, tease, or jokingly play matchmaker to the embarrassment of the youth dancing.
Those were good times now fondly remembered.
Happy Birthday to EVERYONE mentioned in each of your posts.
It wasn’t that long ago, I think the early 80’s, my daughter and I came up from Dallas, TX to little ole Kingfisher, Oklahoma to see my dad and his girlfriend at the time.
Dad was all excited because he was taking us to a barn dance. It was such a wonderful time, dancing in this barn where the tractor, grease on the concrete…where they threw sand and peanut shells to absorb the grease and oil. There was a put together band that was fun to listen to and we all danced the night away!! That was such fun and have never had the chance to do it again. My dad was soooo bold legged, cowboy hat and his nice pressed white shirt and starched jeans. Wish I had taken a picture, thank goodness I see it in my mind.
Thank you Tipper for everything you do… I so enjoy your ideas and everyones posts!!
Blessings to all.
I would love to read this Foxfire Book, they are all wonderful books! Thank you for sharing!
We would go sledding with anything we thought would slide. Once we kids found an old car hood. There was 7 of us kids and Uncle Homer that mom raised. We never owned a pair of gloves so moma would put socks on our hands. We never owned a toboggan and we would tie diapers up around our head and ears. Moma would fill up gallon jugs with hot water to keep our hands warm. We had a ball of fun sledding off the hill and into the holler. I love Fox Fire Books. Hope I win this one. God bless everyone. Please remember me and our disabled daughter Sayward Brooke. We both have COVID. Thank you.
Growing up in Appalachia sounds like so much fun!
I have enjoyed your readings of A Thread That Runs So True! You do readings so well.
I’ve so enjoyed these posts & comments! Thankful indeed ! 🙂
The old days and old ways are dear to me, but I am amazed at some of the offerings of the modern era. One example is a digital picture frame my daughter gave us, preloaded with lots of family photos old and new. The show is endless, and absolutely captivating. I have to drape it or shut it off to watch football. I was amazed again to learn that other family members can add photos remotely from their smart phones if they have a certain app.
Jackie mentioned the church bell ringing when an emergency struck. Reminded me of when people would sit up with the dead before a funeral. I remember being asked to take a turn and agreeing but never was called. Fascinating book. Would love to have it.
“A Foxfire Christmas”–what a great Christmas present that would be in the mail! I love to read the customs of the mountain people. It’s like another world. I wonder if my ancestors lived that way?
I use to belong to a square dancing club and dance three times a week in Knoxville.
When a fellow asked if I wanted to dance this “tip” I didn’t think twice. It’s good exercise, fun and fellowship.
Enjoyed reading the stories today!
Everyone stay warm! Have a great Saturday!
Morning Tipper and family. It got down quite cold last night. I enjoy reading about all the old ways of gathering and mixing and having company. Brings back lots of old memories. I love h ow you share with us. Thanks for making the Fox Fire books available ! I would love to have one.
Dances and other forms of socialization were frowned on in my growing up years. There was a religious aspect to it, but mainly it was, I think, the fear of the spread of disease. The introduction of Covid recently spread fear among the adult population with less for the young. Polio was the opposite. The children were the vulnerable ones.
Back in the 50s polio was a parent’s worse nightmare. And there was no effective treatment yet. The only thing parents could do to protect their children was to keep them away from other children.
Smallpox was another fear. There was a vaccine for it and I have the scar to prove it but it wasn’t 100% effective. Scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, mumps and measles were also among the dreaded childhood illnesses that kept parents distraught. The only thing parents could do was to keep them away from other children who were contagious.
It seems to be a primitive way to raise a family but my parents did the only thing they knew to do. They kept us away from situations that might introduce evils into our family.
I had scarlet fever at the age of 7. Our family doctor made a house call. I don’t know of one doing that since, and that was 75 years ago. They put a quarantined sign on the front door to alert visitors. I also had what they thought was rheumatic fever, too, but it was not affirmatively diagnosed.
I learned several years ago that my left anterior artery is smaller than normal, even considering the size of my heart. It’s not clogged, just smaller anatomy-wise. I always wondered as a kid why I got winded before other boys did. Now I know it was because the artery was not big enough to pump oxygenated blood to my body. Never stopped me playing sports or rough housing though.
We had neighbor kids who had polio. My mother wouldn’t even walk us past their houses, taking a much longer route to avoid them. Note I said ‘walk’. My family didn’t own a car. We went by shank’s mare or rode a city bus if the distance was far and time short.
Lot’s has changed in my 82 years.
My sister Freda had rheumatic fever, too, at about three or four. Her right hand never grew after that and her jaw and chin ended up smaller than they should have been. Her life was one of constant illness and pain. She had to take drugs that damaged her eyes and drugs that destroyed her immune system. She ended up with mental issues that I’m sure were an aftereffect of the disease or the medicines. She died in 2002 at the age of 48 from brain cancer.
Love the Foxfire articles about all the simpler ways and times. And, the comments that readers post about the writings and the memories they’re reminded of…and, the memories I’m reminded of.
What fun memories.
I remember a few of the dances at someone’s house after corn or cotton was gathered. I also remember several neighbors getting together to harvest someone’s crop when they got hurt or was seriously ill. There were two churches in our area – Baptist and Methodist. If the bell at either one rang on a weekday we went to see what the problem was and how we could help. When there was a death we gathered to dig the grave. Each church had someone to ‘lay out the boundaries’ and we took turns digging and shoveling Men and boys worked while women and girls prepared food for all of us. Now when there’s a problem we call 911 and strangers invade our house. Neighbors gather out of curiosity – a few to offer sympathy.
Christmas memories are so precious.
WE always went to my Grandma’s on Christmas Eve. On the way home, we drove by a cotton mill that had a huge Santa in his sleigh with the reindeer. We were convinced that it was the real Santa delivering presents and was headed to our house. We were home and quick to go to bed. I would love reading that Foxfire book. Thank you for your awesome giveaways.
I bet those dances were really something for the little communities back then. I admit, the thought of goin over to the neighbors house and dancing in their living room half the night doesn’t sound too appealing to me in this day and age, but we have so much more to entertain ourselves with now. I’m sure I would have been tickled to death to go dancing back then when you had to actually see folks to know what they were up to!
oh to have memories like that to help us get through our final years in life when we are unable to be as active as we were lo those many years ago and most of our friends and family have already gone home to be with Jesus
I would love to read this book.
I have a few of the Foxfire books, would love to have the Christmas Foxfire book. But I hope anyone who get it, will enjoy it as much as I would. I love reading of the old days in Appalachian Celebration.
What a great post about the dances and gatherings of years past. I have so enjoyed all your “Thankful” posts! Looking forward to Christmas and celebrating the birth of the “Savior of the World”
Your stories brought back so many memories of getting together at friends’ homes, The men folks in our family always enjoyed rabbit hunting at Christmastime. My mother could make the best fried rabbit and gravy. I would love a copy of Foxfire Christmas. Thank you for all of your November posts.
Reading the Foxfire stories makes me wish I had grown up during those simple times when Christmas had a different meaning. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard anyone say take time about. I’ve said it all my life and still do.
I really enjoyed reading this today. I remember my Mama telling about doing all these same things. We certainly need those times to come back.
although I moved to the mountains in 1968, I grew up in Portsmouth, va and whenever a snow came there my dad would hook up to the 55 Buick a large homemade wooden sled which would hold all 4 of us kids and drive around the blocks in the neighborhood…Great fun and memories.
I would love to read the Foxfire books. Thanks for sharing.
If there were dances where I grew up in KY I never knew of them. Church folks kinda had an unspoken attitude that music, dancing, liquor, cards and violence were one set of things such that where one was they all were. Even when that was not the case, there was a guilt-by-association taint. They were each and all to be strictly avoided. It was not spoken of so much as just understood. And such a relationship had occurred in my own family back before my time. I never did know why that attitude seemed to be so particularly strong in that place at that time. Maybe it was because the county was the last one formed in the state and until that time was about 30 hard miles and a river crossing from any one of the three county seats which had partial jurisdiction within what became the county when it finally was formed. The county was 41 years old when I came along but there was still a lot of living memory. An old man I worked with in the 1970’s told me how many saloons were in one of the earliest coal camps. I forget the number but I recall one was named “The Bloody Bucket”. The entire camp is now woods but it was a rowdy place.
I haven’t heard the word “sparking” in a very long time. I do not have the Foxfire Christmas book but have most of the other Foxfire books. Would love to read the Christmas one.
Today is my birthday, so I’m hopeful to “win”.
Ty for the wonderful year is stories and song❣️
Danilee-Happy Birthday!!
When I was in grade school,during the winter when you couldnt go outside for P.E. physical education, our P.E. teacher would have six weeks of square dancing mixed in with volleyball and basketball.The girls always liked the days we squaredanced,the boys not so much,but they did it. Then the school would have a chili supper,cake walk and the kids would put on a square dancing show. So much fun!!
I’ve lived in a big city all my life. And I hate it. But fortunately I met good people along the way and got to live in Virginia, Oklahoma, others states like these. I’ve learned to cook LIKE you. And my mom from England would cook alot of your dishes. I love the mountains of Virginia. So Tipper you have blessed me and The girls too. I’m almost 69 next month the end of my 60’s. keep in blessing love you
I envy the people in these stories, to be able to enjoy life’s simple pleasures is a blessing from God.
Sounds like fun for all!
These Christmas and winter memories sound so fun!! My grandmother loved to square dance and did so into her late 90s. She lived to be 100 years old and talked about dancing all the way up until her death. My family all agreed that’s what kept her going to live so long!
I can just imagine all the dances and candy making. What a simpler and loving time.
I love to read those memories. Reminds me of the Christmas party laura ingalls describes in Little House in the Big Woods. I wish we still did things like that together.
Great stories! Love the Foxfire books.
When Christmas and Anew Year’s were simpler. Wonderful!
“Old enough to spark”! What a GREAT term. I am going to start using the word whenever the opportunity arises. See, even in places like Chicago, Appalachian words are still relevant.
What a special treat it would be to win this book! It sure would keep me company during Christmastime.
I’m getting to the point to where it is just to difficult to haul the Christmas stuff from upstairs, pack it back up and haul it back upstairs. My neighbor helps me get out my mama’s little ceramic Christmas tree and the Nativity I’ve had since 1966. The rest of the Christmas treasures from years gone by stay in the attic, but the memories are always readily available!
Wonderful remembrances about a simpler time of community, neighbors and helping one another.
Last chance entry! What does it mean “to spark”? I’m thinking “to date”?
Linda-yes to date 🙂
Enjoy reading the foxfire books.
y daddy used to play at barn danced. He played mandolin. His brothers and cousins played fiddle, guitar, banjo or accordion. Mama’s family didn’t believe in dancing, so my mama would sit and listen to the boys play and could use the excuse that her man was in the band for she couldn’t dance with another man.
The mention of “taking the bed down” to make room for dancing reminded me of visiting some of my father’s aunts and uncles in the 1960s. these people would have been born in the 19th century. They had 2 or 3 iron bedsteads in the front room. I don’t know if there were always that many or if they squeezed in extras for company (us). Being a child, I slept on a pallet on the floor with my siblings. My sister in law wondered the next morning how anyone slept with all the loud snoring.
I remember trying to square dance. I took a few lessons but never got the bug.
I love reading about the entertainment and traditions of the Appalachian people.. Love the romance.
Both Appalachian square dancing and New England contradancing have the kind of culturally diverse roots that I find fascinating. In colonial times the English folk dance traditions like the Morris dances, Scots-Irish reels, Irish jigs, and Native American round dances all contributed to the development of the “square” dance. Immediately after the revolution Americans were in love with everything French, including their contra and quadrille dances (their key role in helping us win the war against Britain had not yet been erased from our story). But if there is anything truly distinctive about the square dance and its evolution into contra dances beyond Appalacia it is the caller. That element, having somebody shout out directions, has been well documented as the crucial part unquestionably originating with African slaves. https://daily.jstor.org/the-african-roots-of-square-dancing/
Thess are such vivid illustrations – I love it!
My husband, Joe, loves the foxfire books. He had several but they got damaged and we had to throw them away.
We’ve enjoy reading your blog every day. We also watch your YouTube videos.
I pray you all have a very blessed and Merry Christmas.
I could just see those folks enjoying themselves at those dances, sledding, candy pulling and more. These simple pleasures brought people together and gave them a sense of community.
The foxfire books are wonderful
Would like to read this one
Good story!
Ah, those were the good ole days gone by. I’ve enjoyed the snippets you’ve shared or Thankful November. Continuing Prayers for the mighty fine folks that have been devastated by Helene.
The dancing and gatherings that happened in the past sound like so much fun! I learned how to do a square dance when I was in 4th grade and I loved it, I don’t remember what one it was, but was just so much fun to be in a circle moving to the music being played.
I never knew of any dances like this in my area. Like with Aunt Mo, my uncles like to go hunting when they came back home at either Thanksgiving or Christmas. It was “walk up” hunting, they did not have dogs and would come back with a mixed bag. I have never forgotten the “chewing out” my uncle gave me one time when they let me tag along with them and I was being unsafe with my BB gun.
I am Baptist along with most of my neighbors at one time, and you know we don’t dance, we just try to sit as far back in church from the front pews as we can and not snore! At work, I would do a dance called “The Hot Water Quick Step”, I would do it ever time the hot boiling water I was working around would splash on my lower legs or ankles. I have scars from doing it.
Norman I have been thinking of you and about the death of your friend. I also intend to go to the funeral of a lifelong friend and next door neighbor today. This friend was born on Christmas Day in 1952.
I remember sledding on a old car hood turned upside down. A lot of kids could get in it.
It didn’t often snow in my area of South Carolina, but when it did my next door neighbor kids also had the hood of an old car they would use for a sled. We would slide down a steep hill on the road in front of their house, going down was fun, dragging it back up the hill not so much fun. Out in the country where we lived, you did have to worry about traffic.
I’m so thankful for everything God has blessed me with this year. So much so that I can’t think of anything to tell my family I want for Christmas.
As I get older, the things that I want most is time with my loved ones. Time is a treasure!
Thank you, Tipper, for all the time you spend doing this blog and the videos. It means a lot.
Laura, many members know I often write about spending time with family. I tell my son and two grandsons, to not buy me any gifts for Christmas or any other occasion. The best gift you can give me is to spend a little time with me. I will soon be 71 years old, I don’t think there will be a lot of time left to be with them. Time with them, the rest of the family and my love ones and friends Is more valuable to me than anything you could buy for me with money.
We’ve lost so much when it comes to celebrating. We think we need ‘stuff” to celebrate.
When I was growing up we lived up in a holler The neighbor young people who was our Friends loved to come to our house MOMA and DADDY would let us make candy on our ole wood cook stove
One Girl told Her Family we put everything in it but the stove grab ( a lifter for the stove eyes ) which we really didn’t
We had molasses pulling, and sometimes Moma would make us homemade donuts and let us make the holes, She made the best gingerbread. We did a lot of other things, to many to mention We grew up poor in money but we were rich in love.
The last day of November……..I can’t believe it! I’ll take my chances and hope to win A FOXFIRE CHRISTMAS. It’s so much fun to read about how Christmas is celebrated in the “Appalachian South”! Thanks for a wonderful month, Tipper!
Thank you, Tipper, for all the fun posts this November. It was all so interesting to read each day. Of course, I enjoy your blog all year! Today is the second dinner I am cooking this week, but this time my daughter and her family will be here too. I just took brownies out of the oven…a request from my grandson…and I have dough rising to make bread. It’s an extra special day because it is hubby’s birthday. I decided to take a little break for coffee and reading the blind pig. I hope everyone has a wonderful day!
I used to know a lot of people who rabbit hunted on Christmas Day. Not that this was the only day they hunted, it was something people looked forward too as part of “Christmas”. People have other distractions today, but a lot of folks around here hunt deer during Christmastime. The small town of Addison, near where I was raised has a Masonic Lodge that always puts on a Turkey/Ham shoot as a fundraiser on Thanksgiving Day. I took my grandson Thursday. There was a good “turnout”. When I was a small boy, they’d shoot off for turkeys on Christmas Day too. It usually last until before noon. A few other communities had shoots on Christmas morning, but I never see that today.
I remember the turkey/ham shoots put on by our volunteer fire department. When I was a teenager I won a ham and had to shoot 5-6 times with another man before they could determine a winner. I was shooting 16 ga single shot no name shotgun, that was choked so tight, it was almost like shooting a rifle. We no longer have these shoots.
The Foxfire books are truly an Appalachian treasure.
I love hearing stories like those! Such a wonderful simpler time. Even though times were hard, people found a way to enjoy life. Thank you for the chance to win what sounds like an awesome book!
You brought back memories. When I was child, our get togethers were called SHINDIGS
We had some talented people, who could make music with banjos, fiddles and guitars.
There was some dancing also. Mostly, neighbors getting together to visit.
There was always some moonshine close by.
I love stories of old times. Sometimes wish I could be there in person to experience it with the story teller.
Love hearing your stories. They remind me of being with my family.
l love books about Christmas and especially the ones about days gone by.
No matter how hard times were there was always joy to be found. Oh how I would love to sit on the porch again with my grandparents and listen to days gone by. Thank you for sharing these joy-filled stories! Have a blessed day everyone!
love it!
When I was growing up, we ate many rabbits.
My grandfather raised beagles in the late 60 ‘s and early 70’s and beagle puppies are the cutest.
It would be nice if we all could experience an old-fashioned Christmas once again.
Pleasant innocent memories from past times. If only we had such sweetness today. Perhaps we could start something going for future generations.
I never knew exactly what “sparking” was, but it sounded good to me. Now at 77, this city boy likes the Blind Pig, all the Presseley’s, and WNC.