My Appalachian Culture

My mom’s parents were born in Appalachia and my dad’s mom had Appalachian roots. At home we practice Appalachian and American cultures. America is part of North America. There are all different kinds of cultures in the U.S. and one of those cultures is Appalachian. Appalachia is the southern portion of the Appalachian mountain chain.

There is a lot of art in Appalachian culture. The art is not fancy but it takes time and skill. Quilting is a popular art in Appalachia. All my grandmothers from there quilted and we have some of their quilts until this day. Woodworking is also a popular art in Appalachia. My great grandfather built his own barn. It is still standing today.

Language is another part of Appalachian culture. They speak English, however, they use a lot of older words and phrases. Here are some examples: guam means mess, quietous means to put a stop to something, and airish means chilly or breezy.

In Appalachia, they cling to their traditions and never back down from them. My grandparents still speak with traditional Appalachian accents. In Appalachia, the people have a connection to the land. We still go back to my great grandparents’ farm in Easter Kentucky. It is still special to all of us.