When travelling down the interstate or the backroads in Louisiana, youll see lots of beautiful scenery. Is there a Louisiana werewolf? The two young women decided they would go to the car together. I am using it as research for a short story that I am wtiting. French and Canadian settlers as they migrated brought with them the legend of the beast to Louisiana. The plantation's most popular (and yet to be debunked) encounter is the apparition of a young . To my surprise I got text response saying Im outside in my backyard if you want to come over, its not much of a story. I remember it was a brief encounter and not many details but my objective was to write down what he remembered from his perspective, rather than a second-hand accounting from my childhood perspective. According to the woman, "The next day a prominent physician appeared in town with his right arm cut and in a sling. He hides in tall grass near Grunch Road in New Orleans, LA, waiting to prey on teens who park there. I spent a couple summers in Sabine Parish out on North Fort Fort Polk on a tract of ground called Peason Ridge(Little Nam). The creature ran two city blocks before absconding into the marsh. On the last Saturday in October in the city of Houma, Rougarou Fest is held. Outside of Louisiana, the Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio has a rollercoaster named Rougarou. Aside from snakes and alligators, there are lots of predators and other scary things living there. Out of the shaking bush came a large hairy arm, grabbed a handful of leaves then went back in. The student would take evening walks while saying the rosary. I grew up that way and you would hear about strange things.. Some sources claim the myth originated in medieval France, when belief in werewolves would have been far more prevalent. The unfortunate person is under the spell for 101 days. During this time, however, the Rougarou was called Loup-garou. The Rougarou has even been made into an action figure, part of a series that also features Sasquatch and the Yeti. Thats no werewolf, though. 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. The rougarou (or loup-garou) is a monster from Cajun folklore. More than a millennium ago, vampires were demonic vectors of disease, possibly reflecting the very real threat of rabies. Discover the secrets of Louisiana lifestyle and explore Ruston, home of the Peach Festival. According to folklore, a Rougarou is a human that has been placed under a spell. Sometimes I mix all of these subjects together. Cajun legend says that the beast hunts down Catholics who don't follow the rules of Lent. Get monthly email updates and the chance to win a prize. Our parents would say things like, you better behave or the rougarou is gonna get you, says Jonathan Foret, a native of Terrebonne Parish, a patchwork of bayou and lowlands on the Gulf shore. Once turned around, the cousin looked back and observed the creature now walking in the middle of the road and at a quicker pace toward the children. Its fingernails are grisly claws. . 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. [10] [11] Boxer Regis Prograis (of Creole descent) goes by the nickname Rougarou. That festival is cool because it links folklore to current issues and things that people need to be aware of, Rabalais says. According to Cajun folklore, the monster is said to inhabit the swamps and sugar cane fields around the Acadiana and Greater New Orleans regions. Its essentially a werewolf with a cajun spin on it. I'm considering creating a documentary on the legend of the Rougarou when I get some more free time in the future. By clicking "Accept," you agree to the use of cookies on Pelican State of Mind. I used to have nightmares including the Rougarou as a kid and seeing this is crazy that its something based on my home state. When they were choosing the new name, one of the trademarks filed for was the name the New Orleans Rougarou. The report suggests that these two encounters took place in roughly the same area. Once the cousin jumped back on they yelled GO! They did not look back after that. 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. Well written and well documented. The court would ask the public if they believed the accused to be a loup-garou, and usually the public agreed (mainly for fear that theyd be outed as a witch or a loup-garou themselves). The story was born in France in medieval times, when they actually believed in werewolves. On a moonless night those are the darkest woods Ive ever trekked through.that includes the Black Forest, Mark Twain National Forest Missouri, the hills of West Virginia, and the Pine Flats in New Jersey. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have successfully subscribed to the PeachTown newsletter. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. Strange noise ? 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. They are a defining characteristic of Louisiana culture and make the state a truly unique place to live. It stands upright on two legs, and is covered in hair. The sound of human cries in the woods is a theme directly from faire lore. Modern claims of Rougarou sightings are few and far between, however, unlike reports of something strange seen in the swamps of Honey Island. For centuries, if you didnt follow Catholic traditions, such as observing Lent, or if you hunted on holy days, the rougarou would get you. It was eventually through the Cajun French that the name Rougarou came to be. It was a full moon so it made spotting the Bullfrogs easier "super tasty btw", anyway we're wondering down by the . Some have claimed it to be the body of a Rougarou, though others have speculated it might be a Chupacabra or Devil Monkey. Local sanitation workers have supposedly reported seeing them raiding garbage cans or chasing trucks. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. Dont believe us? Theres a howl in the near distance. The Legends Of The Rougarou In Louisiana May Send Chills Down Your Spine Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. Considering how many hunters love senselessly killing wild boars, we really cant blame the swamp monster. She says a local boy was being followed by a dog when he decided to cut it with his pocketknife. Im not making this up. 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. Since the migration, many of the legends began to change to match the times and the dialect. There is also a Native American story of the "Rugaru." In this region; cities, towns, and neighborhoods tend to arise on the dry patches of earth that are surrounded by vast, thick, primordial swamp. Great words, you could make a short story out of that Peason Ridge setting! Honey Island Swamp Monster 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. The boy saw the dog turn into a man, then ran home to tell his family. Despite your personal beliefs in the supernatural, these legends abound and continue to be told in the cajun lands to this day. But you should 100% be on the lookout for alligators if you find yourself in the swamps at night. Where are you from? Kliebert got no response. But now, the story of the once-terrifying rougarou is changing, along with the coastal wetlands it has long called home. Children can see and hear everything that happens, but they are unable to move. Hi, I live in Terrebonne Parish near swampy land that was formerly called Devils Swamp. They had no clue to what creature could make such a sound. There also exist more supernatural explanations for the origins of the Rougarou. The beast is also a hit in pop culture here in Louisiana. Such monster makeovers are common. Standing on two legs on top of a fallen, moss-covered tree is a large, snarling beast. 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. Local stories say the Rougarou roams the streets at night, antagonizing people to attack it. For instance, there is a legend that says placing 13 pennies at entrances you wish to protect is the way to go. This creature, also called Loup garou, is so popular it was depicted on the hit television series Supernatural. A 1981 report bywriter Jerry Breaux pulled from The Advocate archives recalls a conversation the writer had with his long-time friend, Hubert. The bright lights of the stars flicker in the murky licks of the waves near the towering, ominous Cypress trees. Near Avenue A around 9pm, He arrived at the scene and spoke to the lady that called it in. Feel free to email me at jsutherlin@onlyinyourstate.com. Let us know in the comments below! It was near 2am and both parties were hesitant to walk to the car to retrieve the purse. Were you told the story of the Rougarou as . The Rougarou, also known as the loup-garou, is essentially Louisiana's bayou-dwelling werewolf, and it's a prominent figure in Cajun folklore. He told me it made no since for someone to be crossing the road at that point. Growing up, my Mom always called it the Wigawoo, and I never knew any different til I was 30something. Whatever he saw had Mr. Nameless so unsettled that even from the safety of his truck was hesitant to pass where the creature had crossed. Talk of the monster, of course, is also a staple of some of the swamp tours operating in the area. The Rougarou has also been tied to the story of the Deridder Roadkill. Dragons, once the ultimate test of a heros courage, have been effectively domesticated. The only way to arrive at the truth is to keep your mind open to weirdness. In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. The Cajuns (also known as Acadians) are an ethnic group that makes up a significant portion of south Louisianas population. The Rougarou: Southern Louisiana The legends of the rougarou, or loup-garou, have been passed down from generation to generation as long as Louisiana has been inhabited by modern man. 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. Over the decades, numerous people have talked of an ape-like creature or creatures living in swamps. Here's what health officials, restaurants say. Kliebert tried to communicate with the giant, asking who are you? 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. The brave friend dismissed what she saw for a moment and continued to search for the purse in the dark. Theres a lot of blue tarps still on roofs everywhere, says Foret. Full report can be found on bfro.net Report # 56107. In this version, the Rougarou would live life as a normal person until some event occurred that triggered their condition. He might even be neighbors with the Honey Island Swamp Monster, which is also known as Louisianas bigfoot of the swamp.. You can find information on the legend of Cauchemar in folklore from all around the world, and it even exists in the Deep South. 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. A 1926 article in the New Orleans States juxtaposes scenes of the wild honeysuckle and vibrant Southern foliage of the area against bushes used as hiding spots for murderers to ambush victims. The Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has an exhibit dedicated to the Rougarou, which includes a statue of the creature itself. What he described to me, in my mind was a Bigfoot sighing. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. In a 2008 Fox News special,people claimed they'd seen the beast. We all have a notion that this world is a lot stranger than it seems on a surface level. Lurking in the woods and wetlands of southern Louisiana, according to Cajun legend, theres a ferocious monster that attacks the wayward and the wanderer. 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. Definitely a loup-garou. For those of you who haven't heard th. However, due to its incredibly poor math skills, the beast can only count to 12. Described as looking like a sloth, the creature was covered in a light grey hair, had a small round head and a brown nose. The next day the man found the two Dobermans decapitated. He told me how past the railroad track, near the lake they had some deer in a fenced in area. The Rougarou, Beast of the Louisiana Bayou, Gets a Makeover One man hopes to turn the wolfish cryptid into a mascot for saving the state's imperiled wetlands. Sorcery is everywhere, and after repeated viewings of Hocus Pocus, we know what were dealing with. Just hope this Louisiana monster doesnt get hold of you. I came across a LObservateur article that ran around Halloween 2002, titled: Let the haunting good times roll. At first he thought it was a bear that was under the house causing a commotion, but as he approached the creature stood up and ran off into the swamp. "I think it's fascinating,'' said Brettel. They take up residence in your home and play harmless tricks on you, so you shouldnt be too alarmed. Louisiana has the most unique culture Ive discovered in the US and thats saying something being a native of Appalachia. Have you been told a different story about the Rougarou? Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. Tell your version of this mythical creature in Louisiana in the comments below! The New Orleans Pelicans had originally thought about changing their names from the Hornets to the Rougarous at one point! Generations of youngsters have heard the scary tales. But as someone who lives in Louisiana and knows many Catholics who break Lent, I'm not so sure about this myth's validity. 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. Only you can prevent forest fires, and so only you can save Louisianas wetlands.. Children are told by their elders to behave or else the Rougarou will get them. When this is done on the 101st after the curse was initially placed, the former Rougarou is freed from the curse and allowed to take human form permanently. 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. He has the body of a man, head of a werewolf, and sharp teeth that can seamlessly tear through flesh. To kill some time before his date, Mr. Nameless decided to take an evening cruise down Peavine Road to the lake. Every year in October, there is a festival held in downtown Houma called the Rougarou Fest. Its popularity has seen it placed on shirts, mugs, in Hollywood and even seen roller coasters named after it. For instance, in 2015, the floorless roller coaster Mantis was renamed Rougarou. "Who. A cattle bridge that crossed the Yellow Water River was mentioned as a landmark in the report. Two dead squirrels and a dead rabbit were found under the house where the creature had been rummaging. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In closing Ive always considered Yeti to be more of a possibility than a werewolf. The sounds stopped just before it would have broke the tree line and became visible. Had me captured. 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.. This version varies from being a Bigfoot legend to resembling something more like a wendigo. Most Christians believe any spirit that is not a holy one is a demonic spirit. Its rumored that Lutins can take any form, including cats (especially white ones), hobgoblins, elves, and other strange creatures. The concepts surrounding the Rougarous supernatural abilities link it closely with traditional concepts of the mythical werewolf. one football field of coastline was lost per hour. The Caribbean island nation of Haiti, already steeped in the dark lore of zombies and voodoo magic, also has its own version of the infamous werewolf, which they call the je-rouges, or "red eyes." It is also referred to it as the French loup-garou and by the Creole word lougarou. For decades, the equivalent of one football field of coastline was lost per hour; while the rate has slowed, the regions long-term prognosis remains grim. 7910 park ave houma, la (985) 580-7289 . 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. There has been some dispute about whether or not this myth is actually related to the French Louisiana Rougarou legends. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Its too late to turn back! In others, they are demonic forces that play tricks and lead you to your demise in the swamps. 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. Even if I didnt believe his story, I believe his demeanor when recounting it. The Giants body appeared to be covered with reddish hair. Loup-garou. It's got to be the Rougarou, the infamous werewolf of the bayou. Generations of children have heard the scary. [12] Back in the day of armor, swords and jousting, there was a lot more to fear than the plague and witches. This beast first sighted in 1963 is reminiscent of the popular DC character known as Swamp Thing. They described it as a cross between a whimpering dog and human crying. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. 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. The creature was black, hairy, and walking upright on two legs. The story of the Letieche is Louisianas Jungle Book. A year later the boy killed himself and left a letter that the family turned over to the sheriff. A story in The Nicholls Worth, a local college paper, titled "Rougarou Remains Strong Figure in Cajun Folklore," recounts a story from a woman about an experience in her youth.
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