Long before anybody had a weather app, folks in these mountains had to know what kind of winter was coming. Was there enough wood split? Enough put up in the cellar? So they watched. Here are some of the old signs people up here still talk about every fall.
The woolly worm
The fuzzy black-and-brown caterpillar crossing the road in October is the most famous forecaster in the High Country. The old saying goes that the wider the brown band, the milder the winter, and the more black on him, the harder it will be. Some folks read each band as a few weeks of winter, front to back.
Fogs in August
Count the foggy mornings in August, and you’ll have that many snows come winter. Some people dropped a bean in a jar for every fog so they wouldn’t lose count.
Persimmon seeds
Split a persimmon seed and look at the little shape inside. A spoon means plenty of snow to shovel. A fork means a mild winter. A knife means cold that cuts right through you.
More signs folks watched
- Thick corn shucks and heavy coats on the animals mean a hard winter.
- Hornets building their nests high up, or squirrels gathering early and in a hurry, mean deep snow.
- A heavy crop of acorns and hickory nuts means cold weather coming.
Whether they work or not, I’ll leave to you. But I’ve noticed nobody up here ignores a woolly worm.
What signs did your family go by? I’d love to hear them. You’ll find many more old mountain signs and omens in The Holler Handbook Volume 5: Superstitions, Spirits and Old Ways and in my printable Appalachian Folklore Superstition Cards.
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