Some legends of the beast say it can only be killed by fire, others say it can be killed while its in its vulnerable human form. 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. Despite your personal beliefs in the supernatural, these legends abound and continue to be told in the cajun lands to this day. When they were choosing the new name, one of the trademarks filed for was the name the New Orleans Rougarou. The basic tale of Rougarou is one of a half man, half wolf that prowls the Louisiana swamps, looking for Catholics that have broken Lent or broken Catholic rules in other ways. The officer that reported this sighting stated he and his partner did not discuss this much past that night. They take up residence in your home and play harmless tricks on you, so you shouldnt be too alarmed. I believe that people are seeing these poor mangy bears instead of werewolves. The man dropped his gun and ran. The giant was walking westerly at a quick pace with a sorrowful but purposeful look. The story was born in France in medieval times, when they actually believed in werewolves. I remember he kept repeating something to the effect of look, Im not sure what I saw. At that time the only reference I had to Bigfoot was a few TV shows and a book I checked out a few times from my schools library. Legends of the Rougarou. Louisiana native. The Cajuns (also known as Acadians) are an ethnic group that makes up a significant portion of south Louisianas population. I want more! Bog Monster of Louisiana T-Shirt (Impractical Jokers). There was thick wet swamp on both sides. Their body would then undergo a transformation, and they would develop a craving for meat. About half way back to the railroad crossing, 100 yards up the road. Discover Louisiana's legendary werewolf: the Rougarou. Enjoy these allegedly. Numerous ghost sightings have been reported over the years, making it one of the most haunted landmarks in the USA. There was a significant belief in the beast by the populace that people were put on trial and found guilty of being the fabled beast. Today, theyre suave and sexy, thanks in part to pop culture hits such as Interview with the Vampire, Twilight, and True Blood. 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 details of just seeing the eyes suggest that this sighting happened in the early morning while it was still dark. The Rougarou is often also associated with the Skunk Ape or the Honey Island Swamp Monster, likely due to another variation of the myth that states the creature is a shapeshifter that can change forms between human and animal at will, sometimes making it seem more like a swamp Sasquatch than a werewolf. Bobby Brettel grew up in New Orleans, nearly 40 miles away from the moss-tangled bayous of eastern St. Tammany Parish's Honey Island Swamp. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have successfully subscribed to the PeachTown newsletter. However, many people also believe it's just a dog. I used to have nightmares including the Rougarou as a kid and seeing this is crazy that its something based on my home state. The source of storms and an (occasional) kidnapper, the massive ancient beast has inspired muscle cars and jet fighters. The villagers would capture people they believed to be a loup-garou and then hold a public trial. I realized that parts of our folklore and our oral traditions were getting lost, he says. The only way to arrive at the truth is to keep your mind open to weirdness. 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. The Legend of the Louisiana Swamp Werewolf Known as the Rougarou, or sometimes as the Loup-Garou This Legend is said that the creature has prowled for hundreds of years in the swamps Show more. When I asked Mr. Nameless if the creature was covered in hair he told me that he could not make out any detail other than the figure was large, and almost black. There are also stories of an enormous monster that also shares the bayou with the Rougarou and that is the Honey Island Swamp Monster, which is also known as Louisiana's "bigfoot of the swamp." Another telling of the story says that the Rougarou is under a 101-day curse, unless the affected person can transfer the curse to another human . we have similar creatures in northeastern NY along with a few other cryptids like pig men and Bigfoot but i also have seen a panther like cat with black bat like wings by the tree line in a small town along lake Champlain. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. Even if I didnt believe his story, I believe his demeanor when recounting it. The commuter stated that the headlights of his car shined directly onto the creature so they got a pretty good look at it. How safe are you from this magnificent monster? This sighting took place just north of the Manchac Swamp region, about a quarter mile away from Hwy. Feel free to email me at jsutherlin@onlyinyourstate.com. She finally located the purse she grabbed it and quickly ran inside the house. Usually theyd find someone in the woods or someone in the village who was just acting strange.. Their friendly, but often sinister, nature makes these Cajun fairies some of the most dangerous Louisiana monsters. We all have a notion that this world is a lot stranger than it seems on a surface level. USA Today ranked the Rougarou Fest as one of the top 10 costume parties in the country, and you can join in the fun and compete in the contest. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. If you thought voodoo was a thing of the past, think again! If youre familiar with Louisianas history, you know voodoo is part of it. Years later the seminary student was watching a television program about Bigfoot and they played audio of a suspected Sasquatch. Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a voodoo priestess. A simple yet effective trick to protect oneself from the beast. He checked out the deer kept driving and turned around at the lake headed back towards Hwy. The Rougarou, also known as the loup-garou, is essentially Louisiana's bayou-dwelling werewolf, and it's a prominent figure in Cajun folklore. Ready for the creatures that will haunt you in your sleep? 61 when they saw a creature pop up out from the bank of the canal that parallels Airline. Stories of these cajun folklore spirits originated in French culture and made their way into Louisiana folklore over time. The rougarou (or loup-garou) is a monster from Cajun folklore. The next day the man found the two Dobermans decapitated. The only one I say can I truly believe is the sighting told to me by Mr. Nameless and that is only because I have known him my entire life and trust him. She describes the Rougarou as "an important identification marker for South Louisiana's culture." Perrin's statement is quite obviously true due to the Rougarou's clear influence in local culture and beyond. There was a problem saving your notification. Most Christians believe any spirit that is not a holy one is a demonic spirit. Outside of the infamous Honey Island Swamp Monster, there were not many stories that I found in my preliminary search. 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. I'm considering creating a documentary on the legend of the Rougarou when I get some more free time in the future. These Louisiana monsters claim they feel lethargic and drained if they dont get the proper serving size of blood in on the regular. It was late in the evening when Mr. Nameless flagged me down. According to some other accounts, the process of transferring the curse involves the willingly human drawing the blood of the Rougarou. Not in the Pacific Northwest, but right there in Laplace! troy landrey talked about it on swamp people. They described it as a cross between a whimpering dog and human crying. People claim he leaves behind webbed footprints (presumably to navigate the swamps effectively) and mutilates wild boars. 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. 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. Heed our warning and be on the look out for cajun folklore monsters when youre roaming the wildest parts of the bayou state. The story of the Rougarou supposedly changed once French immigrantsor possibly also French-Canadian immigrantscame to live in the area that is now Louisiana. See. 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.. Lurking in the woods and wetlands of southern Louisiana, according to Cajun legend, theres a ferocious monster that attacks the wayward and the wanderer. 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. The neighbor then said he saw an 8 foot tall creature standing on two legs. Another telling of the story says that the Rougarou is under a 101-day curse, unless the affected person can transfer the curse to another human being. These canine-humanoid shapeshifters travel between worlds using magical doors. In the official report the officer filed he was honest, but kept the details to a minimum, it was a very tall dark figure, with no description of clothing. A version from the 16th century paints it as being seen as something similar to a genetic disorder, rather than the curse most other versions of the myth portray the Rougarou as being. Another well-known swamp monster born out of Cajun folklore is the Rougarou. The cryptid, usually described as a towering, hairy monster, is allegedly a human cursed to take beastly form. The Rougarou has also been tied to the story of the Deridder Roadkill. The cousins decided to turn around and go back the direction they came to avoid a close encounter with this unknown, imposing, bipedal creature. You can find information on the legend of Cauchemar in folklore from all around the world, and it even exists in the Deep South. The Rougarou, Beast of the Louisiana Bayou, Gets a Makeover. In some cases, they are your loved ones coming to greet you and bring good fortune. Described as looking like a sloth, the creature was covered in a light grey hair, had a small round head and a brown nose. A human would have a substantial amount of trouble walking through the terrain. Your email address will not be published. These monsters are said to roam the cities, swamps, and scary places of Louisiana in search of their next victims, and its to your benefit to stay educated if you want any hope of survival. The sounds stopped just before it would have broke the tree line and became visible. When the first drop of blood is drawn, the creature returns to human form and tells the attacker who it really is. Sam and Dean had a struggle with this one. Last but not least, the pinnacle of mythology in the bayou state and kingpin of all Louisiana monsters the Rougarou. The different versions of the Rougarou beast are as many as reported sightings of the beast. I found a report from Civil War veteran Fredrick Kliebert who was walking home from a squirrel hunt when he saw what he described as a giant. They are a defining characteristic of Louisiana culture and make the state a truly unique place to live. It throws its head back, letting out a blood-curdling howl to the moon. A spell that as you will soon find out is not that easy to break. Children are told by their elders to behave or else the Rougarou will get them. At this point, you are probably wondering just how the legend began. Have you been told a different story about the Rougarou? 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. Get monthly email updates and the chance to win a prize. Subscribe to the Pelican State of Mind blog by providing your email below! When they got to the spot they noticed the earth and surrounding plant life was disturbed like something big frequently passed there, a game trail of sorts. Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. Were you told the story of the Rougarou as . Growing up, my Mom always called it the Wigawoo, and I never knew any different til I was 30something. Thank you! If this witness tells anyone about this encounter within a year and a day, they will become a Rougarou themselves. Also in Harvey, residents say they've seen it knocking over trashcans and chasing cats. But as someone who lives in Louisiana and knows many Catholics who break Lent, I'm not so sure about this myth's validity. However embracing legends, customs and tradition is the very foundation of culture. Is one of these crafty cryptids on display in a small museum? She witnessed someone slinking around her property. After the officers spoke to the complainant they decided to do a search of the perimeter. This creature, also called Loup garou, is so popular it was depicted on the hit television series Supernatural. The creature is described as half-man, half-dog. This particular evening something strange caught the seminary students ear. I hunt all over america and even in Africa a couple times ive run across crap that has made me avoid entire states and run across other things that i tried to stalk and kill one of these things i tried to kill is a loup garou i lived in deep louisiana until i was 11 i know about these things your gonna need some back story for this i subscribe to the idea that they are cursed humans and will have the curse till they die like wherewolves and the loup garou may even be a wherewolf because the only time ive ever found a claim of one that i couldnt easily blow off the description was the same as a where wolf like a humanoid grizzly bear on two legs with lots of steroids that aside i was doing some hunting one night for hog and saw a huge animal walk out stood 6 or 7 feet tall on two legs couldnt make out fine details due to light but i took a shot at it after i saw enough to realize it wasnt human i shot it in the head with a 45-70 those of you who dont get that its a rifle capable of taking large game like an elephant with one shot very strong round and for those of you who are gun people ill give some specs it was a 500 grain soft lead bullet hot loaded on 72 grains of powder (that doesnt sound like much but i shoot black powder in it not smokeless and no its not a muzzle loader it shoots brass cased bullets like a normal gun) anyway i hit it in the head and it got really pissed of and started to charge from about 200 yards away i shot it again in the chest and it ran off i spent the night tracking it mind you this all happemed at about 10 i only quit when i lost blood trail and foot print trail right around daylight i went home and that night there was a story of a man whos body had been found with two large holes that resembled bullet holes but it was ruled out because there was no trace of any lead or powder and he was drained of all his blood that chalked it up to a satanic ritual now to me it sounds like i killed a loup garou but hey maybe its still out there and just really pissed off. 9 Scariest Louisiana Monsters from Folklore, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Rougarou, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Cauchemar, Best Resistance Bands for Home Workouts in 2021. 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. Theres a lot of blue tarps still on roofs everywhere, says Foret. A recent novel called The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. The Legends Of The Rougarou In Louisiana May Send Chills Down Your Spine Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. The rougarou is like our Smokey the Bear, says Foret. This beast first sighted in 1963 is reminiscent of the popular DC character known as Swamp Thing. According to reports, this Louisiana monster looks human, except for his sharp teeth, goat legs, and many abnormalities. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Its a hybrid mixture of escaped circus chimpanzees and alligators which now live in the swamps of St. Tammany Parish. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Just hope this Louisiana monster doesnt get hold of you. But now, the story of the once-terrifying rougarou is changing, along with the coastal wetlands it has long called home. Im not making this up. I heard sounds Ive never heard and smells Id never smelled but never spied anything. In the late summer of the early 90's (actual year up for debate), I was riding my bike. 51. We know what you are probably thinking. A woman named Barbara Mullins discovered a supposedly unidentifiable carcass on the side of the road in 1996. Required fields are marked *. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Back in the thick, fog-covered swamplands is where youll find the true beauty of Louisiana and perhaps even a monster or twoincluding the legendary beast called the Rougarou. For those of you who haven't heard th. Loup-garou. 7910 park ave houma, la (985) 580-7289 . All rights reserved. When faced with a supernatural beast that has superhuman strength, speed, and sharp claws and teeth, chances are you wouldnt be feeling very lucky. Their full transformation into their Rougarou form would be completed once they had their first bite of human flesh. For instance, there is a legend that says placing 13 pennies at entrances you wish to protect is the way to go. For centuries, if you didnt follow Catholic traditions, such as observing Lent, or if you hunted on holy days, the rougarou would get you. Did your house get ransacked during the night? I suppose anything is possible, and while the Bigfoot sighting phenomena originated in the Pacific Northwest, it seems more than plausible that such a creature could exist here. 2023 Atlas Obscura. In the legend, this beast is often described as having the body of a man and the head of a wolf or a dog and prowls Louisiana swamps looking for misbehaving children. The creature is only vaguely seen in the film with a head resembling a bear. Your email address will not be published. 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. It sounds like a wolf, but somethings a little off. The tale of Rougarou originates from Southern Louisiana, and is often told to young children to prevent them from misbehaving. Was there really a monster in the swamps? 9 Scariest Louisiana Monsters from Folklore, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Rougarou, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Cauchemar, 6 Exercises You Can Do with a Resistance Band, 4 Southern Traditions You Should Know About. There are multiple categories you can enter, including ones for kids and pets. Official Post from Deborah Hatswell BBR Being Believed Research & Investigation Once the rougarou settled into southern Louisianas swampy shadows, it took on some aspects of local Native American cryptids, such as a legendary Choctaw shapeshifting owl-witch. And above all else, remember thisdont go into the swamps alone! The same 12 year old child claims that about a month after, they were out with the same cousin in the woods that bordered their neighborhood, when they spotted a bush along the train track shake. Perrin's statement is quite obviously true due to the Rougarou's clear influence on local culture and beyond. 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. Audobon's website also has Rougarou t-shirts for sale. 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. 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. 4. You can reach the Curious Louisiana team at CuriousLouisiana@theadvocate.com. He sees it as an example of the way cryptids evolve alongside the cultures that created them. The seminary student had the urge to run back to the monastery to tell someone but a thought emerged NO.

Aaron Eckhart Montana Address, Chopin Festival 2022 Seattle, Is Peta A Reliable Source, Articles R