Legend says that the Rougarou will hunt these individuals down and suck their blood, feeding on their energy for up to 101 days. In 1989 this man was alone on top of the levee near Bayou Steel; He was waiting for his brother to meet him to go hunting behind the levee. In closing Ive always considered Yeti to be more of a possibility than a werewolf. Loup is French for Wolf, and Garou refers to a man that transforms into an animal. Another well-known swamp monster born out of Cajun folklore is the Rougarou. With the head of a werewolf and the body of a man, the creature is said to prey on misbehaving children and dates back to medieval France. Werewolves have transformed, too, and not just into the Teen Wolf tv show and movie. It has the face of a canine with many sharp, frightening teeth. French and Canadian settlers as they migrated brought with them the legend of the beast to Louisiana. The sounds stopped just before it would have broke the tree line and became visible. After years of inbreeding, their appearance became less and less human-like, resulting in what people now call The Grunch. According to reports, this Louisiana monster looks human, except for his sharp teeth, goat legs, and many abnormalities. And speaking of scaring Catholics, one French Catholic myth claims that in order for someone to turn into a Rougarou, they must break Lent seven years in a row. Theres a lot of blue tarps still on roofs everywhere, says Foret. Nope, not The GrinchThe Grunch. She witnessed someone slinking around her property. A spell that as you will soon find out is not that easy to break. Its true! There has been some dispute about whether or not this myth is actually related to the French Louisiana Rougarou legends. Children are told by their elders to behave or else the Rougarou will get them. . "The swamp is often seen as a dangerous place, with dangerous animals and everything . 51. It was a full moon so it made spotting the Bullfrogs easier "super tasty btw", anyway we're wondering down by the . Offer subject to change without notice. He told me how past the railroad track, near the lake they had some deer in a fenced in area. Years later, as a middle school teacher, hed mention the beast to his students only to learn theyd never heard of it. You can reach the Curious Louisiana team at
[email protected]. This is similar to that of a traditional werewolf, however, unlike a werewolf, the Rougarou during the day appears weak, sickly, and vulnerable. Curious Louisiana answers. Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a Voodoo priestess. An estimated 15,000 people now attend Rougarou Festival, which still manages to provide a very genuine peek into a culture and a land unlike any other in the world. When they were choosing the new name, one of the trademarks filed for was the name the New Orleans Rougarou. The curse is transferred when it draws another human's blood. Rougarou Fest/Facebook. According to some other accounts, the process of transferring the curse involves the willingly human drawing the blood of the Rougarou. After Ford's death, a grainy film reel was found in his attic that shows a large and hairy figure shuffling upright between the trees. Required fields are marked *. Full report can be found on bfro.net Report # 56107. Terrebonne Parish resident Jonathan Foret was a type of kids. Enjoy these allegedly. Can you really only eat oysters in 'r' months? Like other "monsters" Loch Ness, Bigfoot the Honey Island Swamp Monster has developed an enduring legend. The Rougarou has even been made into an action figure, part of a series that also features Sasquatch and the Yeti. They had no clue to what creature could make such a sound. In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. Thanks for sharing it with us! Rougaroux Rum, manufactured by donner-peltier distillers in Thibodaux, Louisiana, has a special praline-flavored version called Rougaroux 13 Pennies. Get monthly email updates and the chance to win a prize. We do have water spirits, such as Leviathan, a giant alligator spirit, who is actually mentioned in the Bible.
Legend of the Rougarou, a Louisiana werewolf - Paranormal Outlaw No one agrees what it looks like because they dont really have wolves in this part of our country, says Nathan J. Rabalais, author of Folklore Figures of French and Creole Louisiana. The Rougarou has also been tied to the story of the Deridder Roadkill. If your keys go missing without explanation, it could be a Lutin! Only you can prevent forest fires, and so only you can save Louisianas wetlands.. The student would take evening walks while saying the rosary. Bog Monster of Louisiana T-Shirt (Impractical Jokers). Too afraid to move, he watched as a figure about 8 feet tall and hairy from head to toe passed slowly below him, eventually disappearing further into the woods. If this witness tells anyone about this encounter within a year and a day, they will become a Rougarou themselves. The Bible tells us to test the spirit(s) to see if it (they) come from God. Such monster makeovers are common. Despite the fact that it was originally a legend, there are still claimed sightings of the Rougarou to this day, though it has died off a bit in the past decade. Despite the Rougarou legend seemingly beginning as a way to scare Catholics and children, many locals maintain its existence and have their own personal stories, especially among the older generation. Its essentially a werewolf with a cajun spin on it. Subscribe to the Pelican State of Mind blog by providing your email below! When the child saw the dog transform into a man, he dashed home to tell his family. 1983 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. So this happened to me a few years ago, I was visiting a friend's house in the Houston River area, that section of the river is pretty swampy so we were frog hunting at night. If you decide to attend the festival or find yourself around the swamps, make sure to remember the tricks and tactics we covered in this article. A few seconds passes and she started to feel a fear building inside. At this point, you are probably wondering just how the legend began. Witches?Witch doctors! The K-9 unit lost the scent once it ran into the marsh. The Rougarou myth is even so prevalent that the term "rougarouing" or similar terms have become used to describe a person who stays up late or is active at night. Last but not least, the pinnacle of mythology in the bayou state and kingpin of all Louisiana monsters the Rougarou. Louisiana native. Glad the information was here. A student attending St. Josephs seminary college had an experience that cannot be classified as a sighting, but rather and auditory experience. The name changed to rougarou in Cajun Louisiana because l and r are linguistically liquid consonants and they change places a lot, says Barry Jean Ancelet, a Cajun folklorist and professor emeritus with the University of Lafayette. Their full transformation into their Rougarou form would be completed once they had their first bite of human flesh. It is said that you can protect yourself against the Rougarou by laying 13 small objects by your doors.
The Most Haunted Louisiana Road: Bayou Sale Road Outside of the infamous Honey Island Swamp Monster, there were not many stories that I found in my preliminary search. The man heard a noise behind him; he turned around and witnessed two large, red eyes staring back at him. The friend described a chilling encounter one warm morning. According to Cajun folklore, the monster is said to inhabit the swamps and sugar cane fields around the Acadiana and Greater New Orleans regions. Your email address will not be published. Past participants have described the festival as fun, and until COVID it had managed to attract a decent crowd each year. The source of storms and an (occasional) kidnapper, the massive ancient beast has inspired muscle cars and jet fighters. In this region; cities, towns, and neighborhoods tend to arise on the dry patches of earth that are surrounded by vast, thick, primordial swamp. In an attempt to keep occupied and at home during these various phases of the Covid-19 pandemic, on a whim I decided to search out Louisiana based Bigfoot sightings. For the sake of anonymity this family friend will remain nameless, so I will refer to him as Mr. Nameless. That gator is looking pretty good right now, huh? The story of the Rougarou (the Louisiana swamp monster) is not a new tale to anyone that lives or grew up in Louisiana.
8 Scariest Louisiana Monsters from Folklore | PeachTown Nothing is going to hurt me. The student also stated that he did not want to alarm the creature by running off. According to Breaux, as Hubert retold the story, he began clenching his teeth and breathing rapidly as if he were reliving a terrifying experience. The concepts surrounding the Rougarous supernatural abilities link it closely with traditional concepts of the mythical werewolf. About half way back to the railroad crossing, 100 yards up the road. Sightings have given rise to a number of stories describing creepy things that hide in the dark and dont play nice. In fact, instead of wolfish features, most Cajuns will describe the rougarou as resembling a dog or owl. Stories of cajun folklore monsters have been passed down for decadescenturies even. Honey Island Swamp Monster The monsters reputed locale, in the Honey Island Swamp, has an ominous and deadly history that precedes the legend. Loup-garou. I got more specific with my search terms and soon stumbled upon something that reignited the idea of a creature like Bigfoot existing in our parts. Generations of youngsters have heard the scary tales. For Foret and many other Cajun residents in the area, the real possibility that climate change will eventually force them from their homes is particularly upsetting. The friend forgot her purse in the car. "Who.
That kind of transformation happens and I suspect that whats going on with this festival., But unlike sexy vampires or friendly alligators, Forets rougarou has been reimagined to champion a specific cause: protecting its habitat, which in turn will protect our own. When many of the French migrated to Canada and the southern United States, they took the legend of the loup-garou with them.
The Rougarou, Beast of the Louisiana Bayou, Gets a Makeover THE ROUGAROU - Folklore, Myths & Legends Or else you may find yourself prey to the legendary Rougarou. The rougarou once served to scare adults into being good Catholics, and children into staying home after dark, Rabalais says, adding, Now there are other things to be scared of, like rising water levels and hurricanes.. No purchase necessary. When faced with a supernatural beast that has superhuman strength, speed, and sharp claws and teeth, chances are you wouldnt be feeling very lucky. They are a defining characteristic of Louisiana culture and make the state a truly unique place to live.
4 Unique Tales of the Rougarou from Southern Louisiana - OnlyInYourState The Rougarou, also known as the loup-garou, is essentially Louisiana's bayou-dwelling werewolf, and it's a prominent figure in Cajun folklore. After being spotted, the creature ran between two houses then continued to the street when it passed under a streetlight. The few folks that lay eyes on these creatures are simply catching an interloper just visiting. Mr. Nameless is still is not 100% sure what he saw that evening down Peavine Road, but from time to time he still thinks, and wonders what that large dark figure that crossed his path could be. Variations also associate it with animals such as pigs, cows, and chickens, due to the fact that wolves are not often seen in the area.
Don't Miss The Best Festival In Louisiana, The Rougarou Fest Turns out voodoo is still in. In an interview conducted by Carter Buschardt, the officer stated that he went back to look at the end of shift report he filed the night of the encounter, but was unable to find the report. Discover the secrets of Louisiana lifestyle and explore Ruston, home of the Peach Festival. According to these legends, the Rougarou when it comes across the pennies will begin to count them.
9 REAL Sightings of the Rougarou | Darkness Prevails - YouTube Dragons, once the ultimate test of a heros courage, have been effectively domesticated. The article contained a short anecdotal account of an unnamed Laplace man that in 1983 saw something correlates with what Mr. Nameless saw. Perhaps this giant was not a fan of small talk, and from the direction of travel I suspect the giant was heading home to Chackbay. It is most often described as having a human body with the head of a wolf or dog, with glowing red eyes and razor-sharp teeth. However embracing legends, customs and tradition is the very foundation of culture. Stories of the rougarou in Louisiana derive largely from 16th-century French legends of a beast called loup garou, essentially a werewolf. 9 REAL Sightings of the Rougarou | Darkness Prevails Darkness Prevails 631K subscribers Subscribe 4.7K 136K views 3 years ago It's like a real life werewolf, but worse. 9 Scariest Louisiana Monsters from Folklore, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Rougarou, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Cauchemar, Best Resistance Bands for Home Workouts in 2021. Oh wow that sounds like an interested read, Bill! Across French Louisiana, it is a very common legend, and most Louisiana natives are very familiar with at least the name, if nothing else. The Rougarou at Cedar Point is a prime example of Rougarou supernatural popularity. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. I need to do some more research on those spirits! That these creatures are flesh and blood, but the reason they go undetected is because they are inter-dimensional beings that pop in and out of our reality. There she saw standing next to a tree 25 feet away a creature that she described as being extremely tall and white. Back in the 16th century, theyd regularly blame various crimes on loup-garous. Let us know in the comments below!
The Sinister Story Behind This Popular Louisiana Swamp Will Give You There is also a Native American story of the "Rugaru." According to Native American legends, theres a creature in Terrebonne Parish that is the spirit of a child reincarnated as a beast. Discover Louisiana's legendary werewolf: the Rougarou. But for decades, hes wondered about one of the swamp's fabled creatures the Honey Island Swamp Monster, a legendary 500-pound beast that some claim hides amid the cypress trees andmurky waters. A close friend of the family who was on his way to pick up his girlfriend, she lived down the street from my dad. Louisiana has the most unique culture Ive discovered in the US and thats saying something being a native of Appalachia. People say, behind the disguises, theyre really the spirits of babies who died before baptism. Logic would dictate that any such creature living in southeast Louisiana would appear thinner in both frame and hair because of the climate and wet conditions. Your email address will not be published. But as with all great monsters, certifiable proof has been elusive. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience.
The legend is believed to have originated from French Canadian immigrants in the late 1700's. There are hundreds of light . Were you told the story of the Rougarou as . The Cajuns (also known as Acadians) are an ethnic group that makes up a significant portion of south Louisianas population. The rougarou is closely related to the European version of the werewolf but has a few very distinct differences from the wolfmen seen in movies and on television. Deep within the swamps of south Louisiana, legend has it, there lives the Rougarou a legendary werewolf sort creature with sharp claws and glowing eyes. This sighting took place just north of the Manchac Swamp region, about a quarter mile away from Hwy. http://www.gcbro.com/LAassumption03-12-2016.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. For centuries, if you didnt follow Catholic traditions, such as observing Lent, or if you hunted on holy days, the rougarou would get you. Despite the fact that it was originally a legend, there are still claimed sightings of the Rougarou to this day, though it has died off a bit in the past decade. When they reached the paved section of the driveway, PB noticed a dead 90 lb male Bobcat laying along the edge. Their friendly, but often sinister, nature makes these Cajun fairies some of the most dangerous Louisiana monsters. Official Blog of Pelican State Credit Union. Your email address will not be published. Overall, Weve seen the evolution of the werewolf become a more sophisticated, debonair character, Ancelet says. People who didnt have a lot of physical or social power in society found a way to survive through being clever., Even Louisianas infamous and very real alligators have undergone a rebranding. The man dropped his gun and ran. It was also preached that French Catholics that broke the Lent seven years in a row would be hunted down and killed by the beast. The only credibility I can give to these reports is that they ran in the paper. "Reporting a sighting of Bigfoot, Sasquatch and even the Honey Island Swamp Monster does not get you labeled a crazy person anymore, and therefore, those who believe eyewitnesses are not labeled crazy either," said Dana Holyfield, granddaughter of Harlan Ford a man often credited with having the first recorded encounter with the purported swamp monster. If you werent already aware, New Orleans has a prominent vampire subculture. In 1974, Ford, a wildlife photographer and former air traffic controller, claimed to have witnessed the creature while exploring potential hunting grounds. A human would have a substantial amount of trouble walking through the terrain. These stories were used to keep children in line and out of the woods. Today, theyre suave and sexy, thanks in part to pop culture hits such as Interview with the Vampire, Twilight, and True Blood. The Loupe Garou has to be based on stories told by parents wanting there children to behave and make there beds clean the dishes ect ect. In 2011, Foret launched Rougarou Fest in Houma, Terrebones parish seat and largest city, as both a fundraiser for the center and a way to revive the fading cryptid tradition.
The Rougarou: Louisiana's Cajun Werewolf - Exemplore The sound of human cries in the woods is a theme directly from faire lore.
Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Rougarou | PeachTown Then my son started asking me about the rougarou legend and I was like a wha t? A recent novel called The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. That festival is cool because it links folklore to current issues and things that people need to be aware of, Rabalais says. The commuter stated Unlike the sloth, it was man-like. Full report can be found on bfro.net Report #514. 1990-1992 (early 90s) St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. Theres a howl in the near distance. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
The full moon hangs high over the Louisiana swampland. According to reports, this Louisiana monster looks human, except for his sharp teeth, goat legs, and many abnormalities.
Southeast Louisiana Bigfoot Sightings - Rougarou's Cursed blog In a new subdivision that was still being developed named Sheryls Meadows, a 12 year old riding their mini-bike along with their cousin saw a lumbering creature approximately 500 yards away. Once the cousin jumped back on they yelled GO! They did not look back after that. Layer by Layer: A Mexico City Culinary Adventure, Sacred Granaries, Kasbahs and Feasts in Morocco, Monster of the Month: The Hopkinsville Goblins, Writing the Food Memoir: A Workshop With Gina Rae La Cerva, Reading the Urban Landscape With Annie Novak, How to Grow a Dye Garden With Aaron Sanders Head, Making Scents: Experimental Perfumery With Saskia Wilson-Brown, Indigenous Desserts of Turtle Island With Mariah Gladstone, University of Massachusetts Entomology Collection, The Frozen Banana Stands of Balboa Island, The Paratethys Sea Was the Largest Lake in Earths History, How Communities Are Uncovering Untold Black Histories, The Medieval Thieves Who Used Cats, Apes, and Turtles as Accomplices, The Haunting True Story of Bridget Clearys Changeling Murder, Beware Montanas Shunka Warakin, the 'Rocky Mountain Hyena', Beware the Wendigo, the Frostbitten Flesheater of North Americas Chilly Heartland, Beware the Skinwalkers, Werewolf Witches of the American Southwest, Beware the Thunderbird, Badass Cryptid of the Skies, Show & Tell With Antiquarian Horologist Nico Cox, How Singapore's Haw Par Villa Brings Hell to Life, This Once-Thriving Hotel Couldn't Compete With Climate Change.
The Rougarou Fest Is The Spookiest Festival In Louisiana - OnlyInYourState The officer that submitted this report has over 40 years in military and law enforcement, a degree in Anthropology, and self educated in Darwinism, math and quantum physics. Ruston doesnt have a swamp, but if it did. Tell your version of this mythical creature in Louisiana in the comments below! I am using it as research for a short story that I am wtiting. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. Folklore will have us believe that a Rougarou has the opportunity to change back to a human after 101 days, but only after finding another human who is willing to have the curse transferred to them. These canine-humanoid shapeshifters travel between worlds using magical doors. Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a voodoo priestess. This particular evening something strange caught the seminary students ear. The sounds grew faint as the creature traveled deeper into the woods until they faded completely. Could these sightings be and unknown species of hominid living for the most part, undetected in the southeast Louisiana wilderness? Its fingernails are grisly claws. He told himself if whatever that was jumps out at me, I can always hit the accelerator. When he got to the area where the creature crossed the road, he looked out the drivers side window but did not see anything.
The Rougarou ---- The Louisiana Swamp Monster - YouTube Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. Another Louisiana swamp creature that seems rooted in lore is none other than the Rougarou, which is basically a Cajun version of the werewolf. The rougarou, the Cajun cryptid said to haunt Louisiana's wetlands, is the mascot of a conservation effort for its traditional habitat. Even today he refuses to let anyone see it.". As outlandish as that sounds some of the very details in this essay support that. Address: Rougarou Fest, 7910 W Park Ave, Houma, LA 70364, USA. Crafty. Coming across this story made me reach out to Mr. Nameless to see if he would entertain the idea answering some questions about the experience he had in the early 90s. A lover of tasty meat, he lurks in swamps and hunts down unsuspecting humans.
The Grunch: A Chupacabra on the Louisiana Bayou - Exemplore Makes that morning commute not seem so bad, right? These Louisiana monsters claim they feel lethargic and drained if they dont get the proper serving size of blood in on the regular. The lady said, "The next day, a distinguished physician arrived in town with his right arm bandaged and cut. Apparently, when a person changes into a Rougarou they forget how to count past 12 (probably since they only worry about midnight and the moon at this point). Whether the Rougarou is truly a cryptid stalking the streets at night just waiting to pass its curse on to the next unfortunate soul, or whether it is merely a tool used to scare Catholics into keeping Lent, it is clear that the Rougarou has left its mark on Southern Louisiana.