The seminary student stood still, they got the impression that the source of the noise was moving along a path in the woods and getting closer. all proceeds from rougarou fest go to the south louisiana wetlands discovery center click here to learn more. He has the body of a man, head of a werewolf, and sharp teeth that can seamlessly tear through flesh. A recent novel called The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. All the cliches are therethey come out at night mostly. Rougaroux Rum, manufactured by donner-peltier distillers in Thibodaux, Louisiana, has a special praline-flavored version called Rougaroux 13 Pennies. So normally I dont believe it till I see it but in this case I saw it before I even heard about it and now I totally believe it. However, many people also believe it's just a dog. Louisiana has a Nightmare on Bourbon Street situation going on that some arent aware of. Back in the day of armor, swords and jousting, there was a lot more to fear than the plague and witches. The cousins decided to turn around and go back the direction they came to avoid a close encounter with this unknown, imposing, bipedal creature. Ready for the creatures that will haunt you in your sleep? Foret grew up in southern Louisiana, between the Atchafalaya Basin and New Orleans, where stories of the rougarou are most often heardand he wouldnt venture into wooded areas at night because of them. The Rougarou will see the 13 objects, try to count them, and be unable to count them all. The source of storms and an (occasional) kidnapper, the massive ancient beast has inspired muscle cars and jet fighters. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. However, due to its incredibly poor math skills, the beast can only count to 12. Children are told by their elders to behave or else the Rougarou will get them. One of the most popular stories that gets passed down from generation to generation is the legend of the Rougarou, Cajun Country's answer to Bigfoot. Modern claims of Rougarou sightings are few and far between, however, unlike reports of something strange seen in the swamps of Honey Island. The Rougarou at Cedar Point is one example of many as to how popular the folklore surrounding the beast truly is. Some Louisiana monsters are walking around in plain sight! Your email address will not be published. The woman also reported finding hair all over the yard front steps, and porch. Terrebonne Parish resident Jonathan Foret was a type of kids. It has the face of a canine with many sharp, frightening teeth. It was late in the evening when Mr. Nameless flagged me down. 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. The Rougarou has also been tied to the story of the Deridder Roadkill. Their property backs up to a vast cypress swamp. Outside of Louisiana, the Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio has a rollercoaster named Rougarou. Well, the rougarou of the Bayou country has a pretty strong link to the werewolf of ancient times in Europe and France. 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 history of the Rougarou is centuries-old and has many different origins, but the earliest mention of the infamous, mythical Louisiana werewolf comes from medieval France. The legend of the Rougaou goes back hundreds of years, originating in France. Childrens authors have started using alligators as characters. 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 beast is also a hit in pop culture here in Louisiana. 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. Were you told the story of the Rougarou as . Turns out voodoo is still in. However embracing legends, customs and tradition is the very foundation of culture. The 12 year old that was operating the mini-bike accelerated so hard that thier cousin fell off the back. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). These stories were used to keep children in line and out of the woods. These canine-humanoid shapeshifters travel between worlds using magical doors. Just hope this Louisiana monster doesnt get hold of you. This was a deep dense pine forest with rolling Knolls and the occasion small marsh(bayou). The Giants body appeared to be covered with reddish hair. Subscribe to the Pelican State of Mind blog by providing your email below! There was thick wet swamp on both sides. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In 1974, Ford, a wildlife photographer and former air traffic controller, claimed to have witnessed the creature while exploring potential hunting grounds. 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. The question nagged him into adulthood. Rougarou Sightings According to a lady from Louisiana, a local child was being chased by a dog when he decided to cut it with his pocketknife. These loup-garous became a fear for many people in the country, leading to them earning their place in legends passed down to children. Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. Cauchemar is a monster that leaps out of childrens dreams and rides their backs. The tales of the Rougarou have many variations, but it is mostly described as being a hulking beast, up to 10 feet tall, with the hair covered body of a human and the head of a wolf or in some cases a . The cryptid, usually described as a towering, hairy monster, is allegedly a human cursed to take beastly form. The Rougarou roams the bayou in search for misbehaving children to frighten. He flagged me down to speak with me. 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. 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. 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. 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. The story of the Letieche is Louisianas Jungle Book. Their friendly, but often sinister, nature makes these Cajun fairies some of the most dangerous Louisiana monsters. The unfortunate person is under the spell for 101 days. Thats what we in Louisiana call the Rougarou, cher. 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. I want more! The Cajuns (also known as Acadians) are an ethnic group that makes up a significant portion of south Louisianas population. A few seconds passes and she started to feel a fear building inside. The different versions of the Rougarou beast are as many as reported sightings of the beast. In one version, the beast hunts down and kills anyone who doesnt follow the rules of Lent. Louisiana is a lovely place to visit. The story of the Rougarou supposedly changed once French immigrantsor possibly also French-Canadian immigrantscame to live in the area that is now Louisiana. The concepts surrounding the Rougarous supernatural abilities link it closely with traditional concepts of the mythical werewolf. French and Canadian settlers as they migrated brought with them the legend of the beast to Louisiana. Its fingernails are grisly claws. The short answer is oral tradition. 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. Immense fear or indifference could be contributed to psychic phenomena that are sometimes reported with these types of sightings. I grew up that way and you would hear about strange things.. 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. After the initial sighting by the husband, the wife reported that a neighbor came by in an adjatated state. The three adult men surveyed the area from the inside of the truck. Years later, as a middle school teacher, hed mention the beast to his students only to learn theyd never heard of it. The creature was black, hairy, and walking upright on two legs. This continued for 15 minutes until the sound started to travel away. A story in The Daily Comet titled "Tales of The Rougarou Still Haunt Local Memories" states, "In the past, rumors about strange or eccentric neighbors would float through small bayou communities, labeling various people as the dreaded Rougarou." This version varies from being a Bigfoot legend to resembling something more like a wendigo. Required fields are marked *. Definitely a loup-garou. Is there really a Honey Island Swamp Monster, Louisiana's Bigfoot? 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. 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. More than a millennium ago, vampires were demonic vectors of disease, possibly reflecting the very real threat of rabies. Get monthly email updates and the chance to win a prize. I believe that people are seeing these poor mangy bears instead of werewolves. If you'vegot a questionabout something Louisiana-centric, ask us. 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.