Forgotten American Folklore

Today, we look at a type of folk religion.  Churches in which parishioners handle snakes are best known in Appalachia, but are all over the world.  

There are stories all over North America of lonely women in white walking through town in the darkness, weeping for their children.  This is La Llorna of Mexico and the Southwest, who will take your children if they're out after dark.  We'll also meet Tall Betsy from Cleveland, Tennessee.  

The story of the big guy's birth, how his ox turned blue, and his favorite accounts manager   fafolklore@gmail.com

Folklore that grew up on the Internet- Ong's Hat, Slenderman, and Momo!   Share your stories or opinions

We've all heard the story, but everything you've been told about Pocahontas is wrong.  Too bad, because her actual story is interesting and compelling   Contact us at fafolklore@gmail.com  

The iconic song from the Civil War- 'Glory Glory Hallelujah'!   fafolklore@gmail.com

Folklore is what makes a place uniquely a place- Paul Bunyan could only live in the Midwest and Pecos Bill could only thrive in Texas.  Today, three regional tall tales: Most Humphreys from New York, Jigger Johnson from New Hampshire and Joe Magarac from Pittsburgh.   Share what makes your part of the country unique

The idea of families fighting it out for some reason or another is as old as civilization itself.  Today we put an American spin on the idea with the Hatfields and the McCoys- two families battling in the isolated woods of Appalachia for... what?   Contact us at fafolklore@gmail.com  

If you're from Nebraska or the Great Plains, you may have heard about Febold Feboldsen.  He's a Swedish farmer who comes West and settles in the plains- his biggest foe is the weather.  This week he'll team up with Paul Bunyan and solve the problem of fences in Kansas.   Contact us

A venerated spirit and a local saint- both springing from the narcotics culture.   fafolklore@gmail.com

Last week I married a wonderful woman- how do you make an occasion like that on a podcast?  I can't give you each a piece of cake, but I can give you a quick list of fun wedding traditions.     Fafolklore@gmail.com

The Mormon community has a rich history and folklore.  Today its Cain walking the Earth and the Three Nephites   fafolklore@gmail.com

The stories from 'Myths of the Cherokee'.  Kids don't listen to their mothers, man lie to gets a girl's attention, and the world is created.

We'll meet quite a few outlaws as we travel through Western Folklore.  Some will be villains, and some will be legends.  Sam Bass was the first outlaw to be loved by the people and hated by the law.   fafolklore@gmail.com

The conclusion of Daniel Boone, the man everyu frontiersman wanted to be.   Contact us at: FAFolklore@gmail.com

In the era before the Internet, people used to discuss, debate, and pass around song lyrics.  Today, four instances of songs that turned into folklore: La Cucaracha, Yankee Doodle, and two others you've heard of.

Daniel Boone, the man who would be the template for the American Frontiersman, travels through the Cumberland Gap to settle the land of Kentucky.  Survival and determination help the little settlement hold out against the threat of extermination. This is Part One of Two. Contact us!   We'd love to hear story ideas, comments, or vacation stories!

For the Fourth of July a few facts about an amazing figure in Americana- Ben Franklin.  Happy Fourth!

Some very American folklore as we near the Fourth: Betsy Ross being visited by Washington and asked to design a flag for the new nation, and the very strange story of General Washington and his false teeth.   FAFolklore@gmail.com

We can't have American Folklore with cowboys- and we can't have cowboys without Pecos Bill!

This is a great reading of the poem from Librivox- too good not to share.

A few folk stories about baseball!

A young girl lured into the woods...   We'd love to hear from you at fafolklore@gmail.com

An African-American lawman out west, and possibly the inspiration for The Lone Ranger.   We'd love to hear from you at FAFolklore@gmail.com

Information about that Steel Drivin' Man that didn't make the first episode