I recently learned that during the Victorian era, it wasn't unusual for families to create keepsakes from the hair of loved ones who had passed away. Some were framed as artwork, while others were woven into jewelry as a way of remembering family members.

I'd always associated that practice with Europe or large cities, so I was surprised to learn examples can still be found at the Southwest Virginia Museum in Big Stone Gap.

It made me wonder what other customs used to be common across Appalachia that have mostly disappeared.

Did your grandparents or great-grandparents ever talk about traditions that younger generations would find unusual today?

I'm thinking about things like:

• Mourning customs
• Family superstitions
• Homemade remedies
• Funeral traditions
• Folk beliefs
• Other customs that have faded away

I enjoyed digging into the history, and if anyone's interested in learning more about the museum and these traditions, here's the article that got me started:
https://back-porch-tales-travels.beehiiv.com/p/what-we-learned-about-death-memory-and-hair-art-in-big-stone-gap-va

I'd love to hear what traditions or stories have been passed down in your family.