Hangin’ Baccer (Hanging Tobacco)

In Appalachian and Southern farm talk, "hanging baccer" means hanging tobacco stalks in the barn to cure. It was hot, heavy work that whole families took part in during harvest season.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

When I was a kid, 'hangin’ baccer' was a big deal. My brothers did it at Granny and Papaw's farm, but I was too young.

Pronunciation

[HANG-in BAK-er]

Meaning & Usage

- The act of hanging tobacco in barns to cure (verb phrase)

Mae:

What y’all been doin’ this week?

Earl:

Mostly hangin’ baccer.

- A seasonal chore in Appalachian/Southern farm life (noun phrase)

Mae:

Kids outta school again?

Earl:

Yep, it’s hangin’ baccer time.

variations: hanging tobacco, baccer hanging, curing tobacco, hangin’ bacco, hangin’ baccy, barn hangin’

★ Hangin’ baccer meant long hours in hot barns, balancing heavy sticks of tobacco. It was tough work - but also a social time, with neighbors pitching in to help one another. ★

Origin

From Appalachian and Southern farm life. After tobacco was cut, it had to be hung on sticks in a barn to cure before sale. The phrase "hangin’ baccer" became shorthand for the whole harvest chore.

Notes

Strongly tied to Appalachian and Southern farm communities. Many older folks remember it as part of growing up - fewer hear it today, as tobacco farming has declined.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "hang-in back-er." The "to" is dropped - always "hangin’ baccer," never "hanging tobacco."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does "hangin’ baccer" mean just hanging it?

Yes - it’s about putting the cut stalks up to cure in a barn.

Why was it important?

Proper curing was the difference between good money and a ruined crop.

Do people still say it today?

Rarely outside farm country. It’s mostly remembered as part of Appalachian tobacco culture.