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You have permission to edit this article. All rights reserved. Required fields are marked *. Kliebert was stunned when he saw this giant approaching him. The brave friend continued on to the car, opened the door and started to feel around in the dark for the purse in the passenger seat. Louisiana's Rougarou Fest - Enchanted Living Magazine Official Blog of Pelican State Credit Union. Other variations say a Rougarou can turn their victims merely by making eye contact. 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. You can find information on the legend of Cauchemar in folklore from all around the world, and it even exists in the Deep South. As it gets to 13, it becomes confused. And then I realized that is what I saw! He told me it made no since for someone to be crossing the road at that point. Such monster makeovers are common. The Rougarou: Louisiana's Cajun Werewolf - Exemplore This terrifying creature has evolved over millenniabut never lost the need to feed. Rougaroux Rum, manufactured by donner-peltier distillers in Thibodaux, Louisiana, has a special praline-flavored version called Rougaroux 13 Pennies. They had no clue to what creature could make such a sound. Today, theyre suave and sexy, thanks in part to pop culture hits such as Interview with the Vampire, Twilight, and True Blood. Modern claims of Rougarou sightings are few and far between, however, unlike reports of something strange seen in the swamps of Honey Island. The only credibility I can give to these reports is that they ran in the paper. In the swamps within the Greater New Orleans area and the Acadiana is where this beast has come to live. 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. Even the act of self-defense could be life-altering. The beast is also a hit in pop culture here in Louisiana. It was a fall evening and this student was walking on a road in back of the property that borders cow pastures and piney woods. Oh wow that sounds like an interested read, Bill! "I heard the story from veteran hunters. The Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has an exhibit dedicated to the Rougarou, which includes a statue of the creature itself. The officers came around the corner of the house and saw a creature standing up, pressed against the side of the house, trying to maintain cover. Outside of the infamous Honey Island Swamp Monster, there were not many stories that I found in my preliminary search. 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. 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. At the annual October events rougarou costume contest, the fests mascot is reimagined hundreds of different ways, including as an eco-activist. That gator is looking pretty good right now, huh? The legend of the Rougaou goes back hundreds of years, originating in France. He sees it as an example of the way cryptids evolve alongside the cultures that created them. 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. Curious Louisiana answers. 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.. One of the most compelling reports occurred in Marrero, LA circa 1970. Out hunting for deer, Hubert was perched atop an oak tree when he heard heavy sounds approaching from the woods behind him. The K-9 unit lost the scent once it ran into the marsh. Its a hybrid mixture of escaped circus chimpanzees and alligators which now live in the swamps of St. Tammany Parish. 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. There also exist more supernatural explanations for the origins of the Rougarou. 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. Aside from snakes and alligators, there are lots of predators and other scary things living there. 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. Their friendly, but often sinister, nature makes these Cajun fairies some of the most dangerous Louisiana monsters. "The swamp is often seen as a dangerous place, with dangerous animals and everything . Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. March 18th 2022 was the full moon or the Worm Moon and as I was driving down i49 something crossed the road it was almost like a creature I seen in Scooby-Doo doo it ran so fast across the highway on 2 feet and was so tall. Your email address will not be published. Over the decades, numerous people have talked of an ape-like creature or creatures living in swamps. History of the Rougarou: Louisiana's Werewolf - Pelican State of Mind In the same story from The Nicholls Worth, the author, Brandon Folse, heavily quotes Patricia Perrin, a retired English instructor and folklore specialist. When travelling down the interstate or the backroads in Louisiana, youll see lots of beautiful scenery. But first, lets dive into some of its histories. But as someone who lives in Louisiana and knows many Catholics who break Lent, I'm not so sure about this myth's validity. This beast first sighted in 1963 is reminiscent of the popular DC character known as Swamp Thing. The 12 year old that was operating the mini-bike accelerated so hard that thier cousin fell off the back. "I think that there's magic in the swamps that's celebrated at Rougarou," Foret says. Required fields are marked *. Also known as Cajun fairies, these creatures can be either good or bad depending on the circumstances. Louisiana native. You can reach the Curious Louisiana team at CuriousLouisiana@theadvocate.com. When many of the French migrated to Canada and the southern United States, they took the legend of the loup-garou with them. This version varies from being a Bigfoot legend to resembling something more like a wendigo. The New Orleans Pelicans had originally thought about changing their names from the Hornets to the Rougarous at one point! Long, thin arm attached to a 6 to 7 foot frame. 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 two children ran the entire way home, about of a mile. The boy saw the dog turn into a man, then ran home to tell his family. It had a face like a man and the body of an animal, said Herman Broom. But as with all great monsters, certifiable proof has been elusive. In one version, the beast hunts down and kills anyone who doesnt follow the rules of Lent. Don't Miss The Best Festival In Louisiana, The Rougarou Fest [10] [11] Boxer Regis Prograis (of Creole descent) goes by the nickname Rougarou. The mud was too sloppy to retain any prints. Near Avenue A around 9pm, He arrived at the scene and spoke to the lady that called it in. Glad the information was here. In the late summer of the early 90s (actual year up for debate), I was riding my bike. 9 Scariest Louisiana Monsters from Folklore, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Rougarou, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Cauchemar, Best Resistance Bands for Home Workouts in 2021. Save the Swamp: But, Beware the "Rougarou" - The National Wildlife A 9ft tall man with a black beard and what appeared to be a cloak of brown fur hanging from his neck by a rope. Some even suggest a mix of biological and fringe. The details of just seeing the eyes suggest that this sighting happened in the early morning while it was still dark. When French settlers came to Louisiana, the story came with them. As outlandish as that sounds some of the very details in this essay support that. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. Like other "monsters" Loch Ness, Bigfoot the Honey Island Swamp Monster has developed an enduring legend. However, many people also believe it's just a dog. A human would have a substantial amount of trouble walking through the terrain. The legend is believed to have originated from French Canadian immigrants in the late 1700's. There are hundreds of light . 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. The cousins were ridding toward the creature when they spotted it walking on side of the road in their direction. Stories of the rougarou in Louisiana derive largely from 16th-century French legends of a beast called loup garou, essentially a werewolf. Makes that morning commute not seem so bad, right? My Encounter With a Rougarou "aka Louisiana Werewolf". Also in Harvey, residents say they've seen it knocking over trashcans and chasing cats. Both the officer and his partner got a good look at the creature when it passed under the streetlight. She describes the Rougarou as "an important identification marker for South Louisiana's culture." 7910 park ave houma, la (985) 580-7289 . Lurking in the woods and wetlands of southern Louisiana, according to Cajun legend, theres a ferocious monster that attacks the wayward and the wanderer. 51. Rougarou Fest/Facebook. Stumbling upon the LObservateur article reignited my borderline obsessive interest in these types of creature sightings. Louisiana is a lovely place to visit. At this point, you are probably wondering just how the legend began. The lady said, "The next day, a distinguished physician arrived in town with his right arm bandaged and cut. The dark figure crossed the road from the passenger side to the driver side, so it was traveling due south when it crossed the road. Terrebonne Parish resident Jonathan Foret was a type of kids. THE ROUGAROU - Folklore, Myths & Legends 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. After the initial sighting by the husband, the wife reported that a neighbor came by in an adjatated state. Their full transformation into their Rougarou form would be completed once they had their first bite of human flesh. When they reached the paved section of the driveway, PB noticed a dead 90 lb male Bobcat laying along the edge. Theres a howl in the near distance. 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. In closing Ive always considered Yeti to be more of a possibility than a werewolf. Numerous ghost sightings have been reported over the years, making it one of the most haunted landmarks in the USA. The man heard a noise behind him; he turned around and witnessed two large, red eyes staring back at him. The commuter stated Unlike the sloth, it was man-like. Full report can be found on bfro.net Report #514. On the last Saturday in October in the city of Houma, Rougarou Fest is held. How safe are you from this magnificent monster? However, it is unlikely you will find any real pictures of a Rougarou, if there are any, as most claims of sighting have turned out to be a hoax. A close friend of the family who was on . 4 Unique Tales of the Rougarou from Southern Louisiana - OnlyInYourState 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 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. 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 . The French actually have a similar story of the Loup-garou. Years later the seminary student was watching a television program about Bigfoot and they played audio of a suspected Sasquatch. It throws its head back, letting out a blood-curdling howl to the moon. Who knows what it is? A Police officer and his partner, responding to a neighborhood prowler call. Some Louisiana monsters are walking around in plain sight! 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). Back in the day of armor, swords and jousting, there was a lot more to fear than the plague and witches. The seminary student continued to stand still to observe further when the creature started to pace back in fourth just out of sight, beyond the tree line, all why still producing the strange whimpers. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. It was getting late so I was heading back to my dads house for the evening. The brave friend stated that something in her mind told her to look ahead. 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. One of the most popular stories that gets passed down from generation to generation is the legend of the Rougarou, Cajun Countrys answer to Bigfoot. 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. 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. 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. At this point, the beast is forced to retreat as its human form begins to resurface. Perrin's statement is quite obviously true due to the Rougarou's clear influence on local culture and beyond. The creature continued on as it reached a woody marsh area near a canal then disappeared. On a different occasion that same Laplace man was out in the swamp with these two Doberman pinchers when he spotted a 7 foot tall bi-pedal creature that caused the dogs to run off. Southeast Louisiana Bigfoot Sightings. Frogs croak their songs in the distance and mosquitos buzz as they fly around looking for their next meal. 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. all proceeds from rougarou fest go to the south louisiana wetlands discovery center click here to learn more. Deep in the rural wooded swamp of Livingston Parish and young girl was having a friend of hers spend the night. Where are you from? Kliebert got no response. This legendary creature of Cajun folklore is often depicted in literature and images as a man with a wolfs or dogs head. After being spotted, the creature ran between two houses then continued to the street when it passed under a streetlight. For instance, there is a legend that says placing 13 pennies at entrances you wish to protect is the way to go. The story of the Letieche is Louisianas Jungle Book. Louisiana Urban Legends, Monsters, and Haunted Places Your email address will not be published. Have you been told a different story about the Rougarou? For instance, in 2015, the floorless roller coaster Mantis was renamed Rougarou. What is the Rougarou? | Louisiana Swamp Base At the time of the encounter the officer had no working knowledge of Bigfoot or sasquatch, but having a degree in anthropology left no doubt in the officers mind what he saw was most defiantly not a large, naked, human being. The few folks that lay eyes on these creatures are simply catching an interloper just visiting. "This thing had a flat back. 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. The neighbor, who was unaware of the husbands sighting, stated that while walking with his dog in the woods, his dog got spooked and ran back toward their house. A spell that as you will soon find out is not that easy to break. What is a Rougarou, Exactly? - CryptoVille 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 two young women decided they would go to the car together. The friend described a chilling encounter one warm morning. 8 Scariest Louisiana Monsters from Folklore | PeachTown A student attending St. Josephs seminary college had an experience that cannot be classified as a sighting, but rather and auditory experience. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. There are quite a few roads that are known to be haunted or spirited in Louisiana, but none is quite as infamous as Bayou Sale Road, a long curvy road that connects Dulac, LA to Cocodrie, LA. 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. According to folklore, a Rougarou is a human that has been placed under a spell. The creature is only vaguely seen in the film with a head resembling a bear. Dragons, once the ultimate test of a heros courage, have been effectively domesticated. Past participants have described the festival as fun, and until COVID it had managed to attract a decent crowd each year. The report suggests that these two encounters took place in roughly the same area. Childrens authors have started using alligators as characters. Curious Louisianaconnects readers with our newsroom's reporting. "I think it's fascinating,'' said Brettel. The article reported the murder of a man killed because his whiskey was too good and too profitable. 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. A year later the boy killed himself and left a letter that the family turned over to the sheriff. The story of the Rougarou supposedly changed once French immigrantsor possibly also French-Canadian immigrantscame to live in the area that is now Louisiana. Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. Ready for the creatures that will haunt you in your sleep? They take up residence in your home and play harmless tricks on you, so you shouldnt be too alarmed. Heed our warning and be on the look out for cajun folklore monsters when youre roaming the wildest parts of the bayou state. 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. Thanks for sharing it with us! And, if you know anything about sleep paralysis, you may have seen the culprit himself! Immense fear or indifference could be contributed to psychic phenomena that are sometimes reported with these types of sightings. Discover the secrets of Louisiana lifestyle and explore Ruston, home of the Peach Festival. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. ", This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. For the original report of this sighting visit bfro.net Report #2764, Late October, near Sorrento, Louisiana a commuter was heading home. He has the body of a man, head of a werewolf, and sharp teeth that can seamlessly tear through flesh. The creature was black, hairy, and walking upright on two legs. They are a defining characteristic of Louisiana culture and make the state a truly unique place to live. For more information, visit the Rougarou Fest website, and don't forget to give them a follow on Facebook so you don't miss out on any announcements. 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. The line on the trees in this picture taken Nov. 16, 2017, shows the swamp's typical high-water mark, which generally arrives in the spring. When the child saw the dog transform into a man, he dashed home to tell his family. Children can see and hear everything that happens, but they are unable to move. The different versions of the Rougarou beast are as many as reported sightings of the beast. No matter how you spell it, the Rougarou, Roux-Ga-Roux, Rugaroo, Rugaru, or Loup Garou is a werewolf type creature living in the folklore of Cajun French Louisiana. 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. Their property backs up to a vast cypress swamp. 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. Official Post from Deborah Hatswell BBR Being Believed Research & Investigation The Most Haunted Louisiana Road: Bayou Sale Road Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Rougarou, The Louisiana Swamp Werewolf - YouTube The monsters reputed locale, in the Honey Island Swamp, has an ominous and deadly history that precedes the legend. According to two deputies who refused to have their names published for fear of retaliation, killers knew they could disappear into the swamp's thick fog, their whereabouts untrackable by officers or bloodhounds. They appear as fluorescent balls of light which loom over the marshlands of Louisiana. It was still very much daylight when this happened but the only detail he could make out was that the creature was upright and a bipedal hominid, dark in color. The question nagged him into adulthood. Personally, Id never hear about something terrible and say, Yep, thats definitely the work of a werewolf. Some months prior to this her entire family told her they hear a woman screaming at the top of her lungs, followed by a gurgling noise coming from the woods. The three adult men surveyed the area from the inside of the truck. Another well-known swamp monster born out of Cajun folklore is the Rougarou. I need to do some more research on those spirits! This was a deep dense pine forest with rolling Knolls and the occasion small marsh(bayou). It has the face of a canine with many sharp, frightening teeth. Ruston doesnt have a swamp, but if it did. The 2015 short film Atchafalaya centers around a game warden searching in a Louisiana swamp for a missing person who is hinted to have been taken by a loup-garou. And above all else, remember thisdont go into the swamps alone! The rougarou, the Cajun cryptid said to haunt Louisiana's wetlands, is the mascot of a conservation effort for its traditional habitat. While you're in Houma, don't forget to stop by A-Bear's, home to some of the most delicious homemade desserts in Louisiana. A lover of tasty meat, he lurks in swamps and hunts down unsuspecting humans. 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. In another variation of the story, the half man half wolf monster targets and kills Catholics that have failed to follow the rules of Lent. 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. There has been some dispute about whether or not this myth is actually related to the French Louisiana Rougarou legends. 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. Described as looking like a sloth, the creature was covered in a light grey hair, had a small round head and a brown nose. Jerry Major's Curious Louisiana question is more than an inquiry about a pronunciation. However embracing legends, customs and tradition is the very foundation of culture. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. Over the last century, hurricanes, sea level rise, and problematic development projects, such as damming the Mississippi River, have caused Louisiana to lose more than 2,000 square miles of land. Cauchemar is a monster that leaps out of childrens dreams and rides their backs. We love meat too, but come on. Despite being a monster of legends, just like its cousin the werewolf, the Rougarou has its weakness. Legend of the Rougarou, a Louisiana werewolf - The Daily Advertiser The friend forgot her purse in the car. I am a journalist from Louisiana who has always been fascinated by folk lore and its cultural impact. Across French Louisiana, it is a very common legend, and most Louisiana natives are very familiar with at least the name, if nothing else.