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Articles in regional publications that pertain to a wide range of North Carolina-related topics.

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28 results for Superstition
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Record #:
34619
Author(s):
Skupien, Greg
Abstract:
Folklore has often cast the black cat, screech owl, and doodlebug in a bad light. In Frank C. Brown’s books “The Folklore of North Carolina”, he postulates that these creatures are omens of bad luck. This article explores these native North Carolina species, how they got reputations as bad omens, and where to find them in the state.
Source:
North Carolina Naturalist (NoCar QH 76.5 N8 N68), Vol. 25 Issue 4, Fall 2017, p2-3, il
Subject(s):
Folklore and history--North Carolina; North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (Raleigh); Superstition
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Record #:
37034
Author(s):
Woodford, Ann
Abstract:
The author recounts several stories concerning ghosts and superstitions told to her by her fore-parents.
Source:
North Carolina Folklore Journal (NoCar GR 110 N8 N6), Vol. 63 Issue 1-2, 2016, p41-49 Periodical Website
Subject(s):
Ghost stories; Storytellers; Folk tales--African American; Poetry; Superstition; Witchcraft
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Record #:
8222
Author(s):
Proctor, Richard C.
Abstract:
Many North Carolina traditions and superstitions are observed during the Christmas season. Proctor highlights several of these folktales. Included are holiday charms such as using the previous year's Christmas Yule log, stepping into a house with your right foot, wearing a new suit, tasting plum pudding, and eating mince pie. It is a good omen if Christmas falls on Sunday but bad if it falls on Saturday. Included also are actions that will result in bad luck such as pruning evergreens, having a loaf of bread break while cutting it, and crossing your knife and fork while they are on a table. Superstitions surround not only Christmas but New Years as well. For example, if a dark-haired man comes to your house New Year's morning, it is a good sign, but if a woman or a light-haired man comes the following year will not go well.
Source:
The State (NoCar F 251 S77), Vol. 52 Issue 7, Dec 1984, p7-9, il
Subject(s):
Superstition
Full Text:
Read Online
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Record #:
16339
Author(s):
Hedges, James S.
Abstract:
The folk belief, \"If you have a mole on your neck, you will be hanged,\" was heard around the turn of the century and before, when hanging was a common form of execution. Charles Waddell Chesnutt uses this belief from the folklore of southern African Americans as an important tool to develop the theme of social strangulation in The Marrow of Tradition, first published in 1901.
Source:
North Carolina Folklore Journal (NoCar GR 110 N8 N6), Vol. 31 Issue 1, Spring-Summer 1983, p43-44 Periodical Website
Subject(s):
Superstition; Folk beliefs; Folklore--Literature; Folklore--African Americans; Chesnutt, Charles Waddell, 1858-1932
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Record #:
35908
Author(s):
Wise, Jim
Abstract:
Mentioned was Smoke to Gold, a book produced by a local junior historic club, the Skewarkians. Getting the spotlight, though, was their second literary endeavor, Weird Tales. Many of the tales told were the byproduct of club members interviewing residents of Martin County, living in towns like Bear Grass. Helping the book to live up to its name and claim were ghost stories, local superstitions, and folk medicine.
Source:
Tar Heel (NoCar F 251 T37x), Vol. 8 Issue 8, Oct 1980, p16
Subject(s):
Ghosts; Folk medicine; Superstition; Storytellers; Tobacco farms; Skewarkians; Bear Grass, NC
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Record #:
16360
Author(s):
Whitely, Marilyn
Abstract:
Customs surrounding death and burial are considered rites of passage, those rituals observed at a person's passing from one stage of life to another. The people of Franklin County observe a unique set of death and burial customs that include stopping clocks, the bathing of the deceased, and the honoring of certain objects.
Source:
North Carolina Folklore Journal (NoCar GR 110 N8 N6), Vol. 25 Issue 2, Nov 1977, p61-66 Periodical Website
Subject(s):
Superstition; Burial customs
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Record #:
16374
Author(s):
Maley, Suzanne
Abstract:
Maley presents a list of North Carolina superstitions about animals and the weather. For example, pure white cats are good luck, if a bird gets loose in your house it is a sign of death, red sails at night, sailors delight, and large berry crops on hollies is a sign of a cold winter.
Source:
North Carolina Folklore Journal (NoCar GR 110 N8 N6), Vol. 22 Issue 1, Feb 1974, p21-25 Periodical Website
Subject(s):
Superstition
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Record #:
35670
Author(s):
Wellman, Manly Wade
Abstract:
A collection of stories from teenage boys about ghosts, haunted houses, murder, and more.
Source:
North Carolina Folklore Journal (NoCar GR 110 N8 N6), Vol. 22 Issue 3, Aug 1974, p115-118 Periodical Website
Subject(s):
Folklore; Legends; Superstition; Ghost stories; Animal lore
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Record #:
35585
Author(s):
Smith, Jo Sherrin
Abstract:
Several superstitions that pertain to horses.
Source:
North Carolina Folklore Journal (NoCar GR 110 N8 N6), Vol. 21 Issue 1, Apr 1973, p17 Periodical Website
Subject(s):
Animal lore; Superstition; Horses--Folklore
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Record #:
35586
Author(s):
Stansel, David B., Jr.
Abstract:
Located west of Wilmington, the town of Maco has had several strange happenings, particularly by Maco Light, a crossroad.
Source:
North Carolina Folklore Journal (NoCar GR 110 N8 N6), Vol. 21 Issue 1, Apr 1973, p18-22 Periodical Website
Subject(s):
Ghost stories; Superstition; Folklore
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Record #:
35601
Author(s):
Moose, Ruth
Abstract:
In 1972, Doris Betts wrote the novel “The River to Pickle Beach,” about life in a small North Carolina town. Betts imbued her work with folkloric elements, such as superstitions and speech, native to North Carolina; in this article, Moose highlights those elements and explains some of them.
Source:
North Carolina Folklore Journal (NoCar GR 110 N8 N6), Vol. 21 Issue 2, May 1973, p61-62 Periodical Website
Subject(s):
Superstition; Books--Reviews; Folk speech
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Record #:
35538
Author(s):
Not Given
Abstract:
A collection of 17 stories and folktales written by children, each with an accompanying drawing.
Source:
North Carolina Folklore Journal (NoCar GR 110 N8 N6), Vol. 20 Issue 3, Aug 1972, p108-114, il Periodical Website
Subject(s):
Folklore; Superstition; Folklore--Weather
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Record #:
35409
Author(s):
Not Given
Abstract:
A group of men are led into a supposedly haunted pocosin, or wetland, in an attempt to find a sawmill and city on the other side.
Source:
North Carolina Folklore Journal (NoCar GR 110 N8 N6), Vol. 19 Issue 1, Jan 1971, p6-8 Periodical Website
Subject(s):
Superstition
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Record #:
35469
Author(s):
Barton, Lee
Abstract:
Several superstitions and stories concerning the supernatural that was told to the author as a boy by his father.
Source:
North Carolina Folklore Journal (NoCar GR 110 N8 N6), Vol. 19 Issue 4, Nov 1971, p173-176 Periodical Website
Subject(s):
Ghost stories; Ghosts; Folklore; Lumbee Indians--North Carolina; Superstition; Witchcraft; Poetry
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Record #:
16445
Author(s):
Clark, Joseph D.
Abstract:
Clark presents 1683 entries of popular belief and superstition widespread across North Carolina and gathered from magazines, monographs, newspapers, and other texts. The beliefs are divided between such entries as birth, infancy, and childhood; human body; domestic pursuits; economic and social relations; travel; love; death; witchcraft; seasons; weather; animals; and plants.
Source:
North Carolina Folklore Journal (NoCar GR 110 N8 N6), Vol. 18 Issue 1, Jan 1970, p2-66 Periodical Website
Subject(s):
Superstition; Popular beliefs--North Carolina
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