Holiday Favorites From Inside Appalachia

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This week, we go a-wassailing in Asheville, North Carolina. It’s kind of like Christmas caroling, with a kick.

Also, family recipes bring generations together. But what happens when you’ve got grandma’s potato candy recipe, and it doesn’t have exact measurements?

And a new book explores the magical dark side of nature.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

Here We Go A-Wassailing
Grandma’s Potato Candy
Adventures Among Glow Worms And Fireflies
Communion Wafers And Apple Butter Inspire Chefs’ Work At Lost Creek Farm

Here We Go A-Wassailing

Two carolers sing at night. They look happy and are bundled up in coats, scarves, and hats to keep warm. — Wassailers sing outside a home in Asheville, North Carolina. Traditionally, wassailers not only sang for their neighbors, but also sang in apple orchards to ensure a good harvest for the coming year.
*Photo Credit: Rebecca Williams/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

The winter holidays are a chance to get together and find some good cheer.

In Asheville, North Carolina, a group of friends has been taking part in the English singing tradition of wassailing. It’s like Christmas caroling, but older. And for some of the singers, wassailing has become a way to connect to their roots.

In 2023, Folkways Reporter Rebecca Williams had this story.

Grandma’s Potato Candy

An older woman leans over a bowl of potato candy. — Brenda Sandoval testing the consistency of the potato mixture.
*Photo Credit: Capri Cafaro/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

A lot of families have tried and true holiday recipes. Often, these treasured family recipes get passed down and are a way to connect with the past. But not all of them use exact measurements. So how do you know you’re getting the mix right, especially if you’ve never tried it?

In 2023, Capri Cafaro brought us a story about Brenda Sandoval’s attempt to recreate her grandmother’s potato candy.

Adventures Among Glow Worms And Fireflies

Book cover for "Night Magic." It features an owl, salamander and several insects. — Leigh Ann Henion's "Night Magic" explores the surprises of the nighttime world.
*Courtesy Photo*

Leigh Ann Henion is an author from Boone, North Carolina. Her new book is about what happens after the sun goes down. It’s called, Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens and Other Marvels of the Dark.

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Henion about staying up late and not so late to see wonders.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by The Sycomores, Bob Thompson, the Cappella Bell Choir and Bela Fleck and the flecktones.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from folkways editor Nicole Musgrave.

You can send us an email: [email protected].

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

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