Serpents, Social Norms, and Good Ole Southern Communitas: A Theoretical Approach to Appalachian Serpent Handling

This study examines the ritual of serpent handling in Appalachian Pentecostal communities, drawing on fieldwork, practitioner interviews, and extensive analysis of books, articles, and videos. Using Cristina Bicchieri’s theories of unwritten rules, the research explores how implicit norms, such as the necessity of the “anointing,” sustain the ritual’s spiritual integrity and communal adherence. Victor Turner’s concepts of liminality and communitas highlight the transformative and unifying aspects of the practice, while Richard Schechner’s performance theories reveal the interplay between structure, spontaneity, and the dual purposes of efficacy and entertainment. By analyzing serpent handling as an embodied practice and a lived religion, this study demonstrates how the ritual bridges personal faith and collective identity. Through a multidisciplinary approach and diverse sources, the research contributes to a deeper understanding of the cultural, religious, and social dynamics that shape and sustain this unique tradition.