Sign in or create a free account to curate your search content.
Folk traditions include customs, beliefs, stories, music, food, and lifestyles that are handed down through generations in families or communities. These traditions are usually learned through everyday life or the spoken word, rather than formal schooling. They represent the cultures, values, and history of the people who share them.
Folk medicine in West Virginia involves healing practices passed down through generations. Remedies fall into three types:Household remedies – using everyday items like salt, honey, or tobacco for common issuesHerbal remedies – using plants like g...
Folk music in West Virginia features instruments like fiddles, banjos, and guitars, with roots in British, German, African, and other immigrant traditions. Songs passed down from pioneers include ballads and tragic stories, often sung without inst...
Folk dance in West Virginia comes from the traditions of early European and African settlers. Square dancing is the most well-known, rooted in a mix of European dance styles. Play-party dancing, a circle dance with singing instead of a caller, was...
West Virginia’s handcraft tradition began with early settlers in the 1700s and 1800s, who made essential items by hand using natural materials like wood, leather, and metal. Practicality was key, but craftspeople often added decorative touches. Bl...
Traditional basket making in West Virginia uses local materials like white oak, hickory, maple, and vines. White oak is the most common and is split into thin strips called "splits." Baskets come in various shapes and sizes and are named based on ...
Traditional chair making in West Virginia uses centuries-old post-and-rung techniques. It's still found primarily in the Appalachian region. Craftsmen handcraft chairs using tools like lathes and drawknives. These chairs, such as "ladderback" or "...
Even after power looms were introduced in the 1830s, many women continued weaving fabric at home, making items like blankets, clothing, and bed coverlets, which often became family heirlooms. Weaving was common in rural homes, with families using ...
Quiltmaking has a long history in West Virginia, often seen as "women's work," influenced by cultural and local traditions. West Virginia quilts feature unique patterns, such as "the fans," and may use techniques like hemming instead of binding.In...