Don’t Eat the First Snow
I heard this one growin' up, but it was hard not to take a tiny taste. My gut still warns me the first snow every year. I heard this one growin' up, but it was hard not to take a tiny taste. My gut still warns me the first snow every year. Origin
This belief blends folk wisdom with practical caution. In rural communities, especially across the Appalachians and the South, the first snowfall was seen as nature’s way of sweeping the air clean after months of smoke and dust. Parents warned children not to eat it, saying it held all the pollution and "sky dirt" that had built up since the last snow.
Though similar sayings appear elsewhere in the U.S., the "first snow’s poison" warning became part of Southern mountain talk - passed along with other bits of weather wisdom and health advice from older generations.
Notes
Legacy
Modern science agrees that the first snow can carry pollutants and dirt from the atmosphere, giving the old superstition a surprising bit of truth. What started as country caution became a long-standing piece of Southern folklore - a mix of good sense and granny’s authority.
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 4). Don’t Eat the First Snow. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/folklore/dont-eat-the-first-snow
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Don’t Eat the First Snow." HillbillySlang.com, 4 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/folklore/dont-eat-the-first-snow.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Don’t Eat the First Snow." HillbillySlang.com. October 4, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/folklore/dont-eat-the-first-snow.
Dislaimer
What you're reading here is old Southern folklore and storytelling - not medical advice, and not meant to guide health, or pregnancy decisions (especially pregnancy decisions!). These tales are part of how folks once made sense of the world, passed down from grandparents and midwives.
If you have any medical questions or concerns, talk with a qualified healthcare professional.
Learn more on the Folklore hub page.