As outlandish as that sounds some of the very details in this essay support that. Enjoy these allegedly. There also exist more supernatural explanations for the origins of the Rougarou. Considering how many hunters love senselessly killing wild boars, we really cant blame the swamp monster. Apparently that was a thing they did back then. 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. What he described to me, in my mind was a Bigfoot sighing. A recent novel called The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. Audobon's website also has Rougarou t-shirts for sale. Back in the 16th century, theyd regularly blame various crimes on loup-garous. In the same story from The Nicholls Worth, the author, Brandon Folse, heavily quotes Patricia Perrin, a retired English instructor and folklore specialist. 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. What he told me next has stuck in my memory, and was the spark that lit the flame regarding personal interest I took in all things weird, and strange. When they were choosing the new name, one of the trademarks filed for was the name the New Orleans Rougarou. The story of the Letieche is Louisianas Jungle Book. I had almost forgot about it since no one answered phone when I wanted to tell someone what I just seen was so weird. According to Cajun folklore, the monster is said to inhabit the swamps and sugar cane fields around the Acadiana and Greater New Orleans regions. The man dropped his gun and ran. 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. Once the girl was halfway to the vehicle she noticed her friend was still standing at the front door of the house. What is the Rougarou? 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. Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. 1983 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. The unfortunate person is under the spell for 101 days. The Rougarou (Cedar Point) roller coaster is located at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. Registration begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, and the contest begins at 4 p.m. "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. The creature continued on as it reached a woody marsh area near a canal then disappeared. A few seconds passes and she started to feel a fear building inside. We cant make this stuff up. 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. 9 Scariest Louisiana Monsters from Folklore, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Rougarou, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Cauchemar, Best Resistance Bands for Home Workouts in 2021. 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. Its too late to turn back! The plantation's most popular (and yet to be debunked) encounter is the apparition of a young . Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The Same LObservateur article that mentioned the Laplace mans sighting near Ruddock in 1983, also makes mention of another Laplace man that had a strange encounter on top of the levee near Bayou Steel. One of the most compelling reports occurred in Marrero, LA circa 1970. Who knows what it is? Definitely a loup-garou. 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. By the end, youll know the scariest rumors circulating in cajun land. The woman also reported finding hair all over the yard front steps, and porch. He told me it made no since for someone to be crossing the road at that point. While most likely these stories are cautionary tales meant to keep kids from wandering into dangerous situations, it does make you think! Lurking in the woods and wetlands of southern Louisiana, according to Cajun legend, theres a ferocious monster that attacks the wayward and the wanderer. There she saw standing next to a tree 25 feet away a creature that she described as being extremely tall and white. According to the woman, "The next day a prominent physician appeared in town with his right arm cut and in a sling. Your email address will not be published. Rougarou Fest/Facebook. When faced with a supernatural beast that has superhuman strength, speed, and sharp claws and teeth, chances are you wouldnt be feeling very lucky. troy landrey talked about it on swamp people. 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 New Orleans Pelicans, Louisiana's NBA team, were formerly known as the Hornets. He hides in tall grass near Grunch Road in New Orleans, LA, waiting to prey on teens who park there. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a Voodoo priestess. Loup is French for Wolf, and Garou refers to a man that transforms into an animal. The Rougarou at Cedar Point is a prime example of Rougarou supernatural popularity. The 12 year old that was operating the mini-bike accelerated so hard that thier cousin fell off the back. It's okay, because we're here to bust them! 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. Have you been told a different story about the Rougarou? Wow, thank you for that insight! Feel free to email me at jsutherlin@onlyinyourstate.com. Offer subject to change without notice. Required fields are marked *. In this region; cities, towns, and neighborhoods tend to arise on the dry patches of earth that are surrounded by vast, thick, primordial swamp. That's how I knew it wasnt a bear, another witness reported. 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. Modern claims of Rougarou sightings are few and far between, however, unlike reports of something strange seen in the swamps of Honey Island. He might even be neighbors with the Honey Island Swamp Monster, which is also known as Louisianas bigfoot of the swamp.. Lapin, the trickster rabbit rooted in African folklore traditions that were brought to Louisiana by enslaved people, has also seen a transformation. Legend says that the Rougarou will hunt these individuals down and suck their blood, feeding on their energy for up to 101 days. No, you dont become a Rougarou from a bite or scratch, or from losing a bet. Long, thin arm attached to a 6 to 7 foot frame. You interact with them, theyre dancing and theyre nice. Standing on two legs on top of a fallen, moss-covered tree is a large, snarling beast. Curious Louisiana answers. The creature is described as half-man, half-dog. Dont believe us? This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. Its true! For the original report of this sighting visit bfro.net Report #2764, Late October, near Sorrento, Louisiana a commuter was heading home. Full report can be found on bfro.net Report # 56107. In one version, the beast hunts down and kills anyone who doesnt follow the rules of Lent. By clicking "Accept," you agree to the use of cookies on Pelican State of Mind. After the officers spoke to the complainant they decided to do a search of the perimeter. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. Lover of all things comedy, photography, and travel related. A cattle bridge that crossed the Yellow Water River was mentioned as a landmark in the report. Well, the rougarou of the Bayou country has a pretty strong link to the werewolf of ancient times in Europe and France. The sound of human cries in the woods is a theme directly from faire lore. I grew up that way and you would hear about strange things.. The article reported the murder of a man killed because his whiskey was too good and too profitable. The Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has an exhibit dedicated to the Rougarou, which includes a statue of the creature itself. The student would take evening walks while saying the rosary. There was thick wet swamp on both sides. Beasts called loup-garous, which means werewolves in French, were also infamous throughout the country. In the article, we will attempt to answer these questions and more. Curious Louisianaconnects readers with our newsroom's reporting. There has been some dispute about whether or not this myth is actually related to the French Louisiana Rougarou legends. Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. This a great article!! 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. In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. If you werent already aware, New Orleans has a prominent vampire subculture. These loup-garous became a fear for many people in the country, leading to them earning their place in legends passed down to children. mystery of Marie Laveau, Louisianas Voodoo Queen, Jacques St. Germain, The Infamous Louisiana Vampire, Jean Lafitte: Mystery of the Unfound Treasure, History of the Louisiana Snowball and Its Flavors. Also in Harvey, residents say they've seen it knocking over trashcans and chasing cats. Some have claimed it to be the body of a Rougarou, though others have speculated it might be a Chupacabra or Devil Monkey. The Rougarou of the Bayou Louisiana is a fascinating place whose history is rich with legends from long ago. 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. At this point, you are probably wondering just how the legend began. Im not making this up. 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. 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. I had relatives that lived in Covington," Brettel said. A 1981 report bywriter Jerry Breaux pulled from The Advocate archives recalls a conversation the writer had with his long-time friend, Hubert. 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. Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. Be careful, because Louisiana monsters are all over! The bright lights of the stars flicker in the murky licks of the waves near the towering, ominous Cypress trees. 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. Cauchemar is a monster that leaps out of childrens dreams and rides their backs. Is there really a Honey Island Swamp Monster, Louisiana's Bigfoot? 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. You have permission to edit this article. Even if I didnt believe his story, I believe his demeanor when recounting it. 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. For instance, instead of labourer, meaning to plow, sometimes youll hear Cajuns say rabourer. She describes the Rougarou as "an important identification marker for South Louisiana's culture." And, if you know anything about sleep paralysis, you may have seen the culprit himself! 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. 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. The giant was walking westerly at a quick pace with a sorrowful but purposeful look. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. My Encounter With a Rougarou "aka Louisiana Werewolf". In a 2008 Fox News special,people claimed they'd seen the beast. This terrifying creature has evolved over millenniabut never lost the need to feed. When many of the French migrated to Canada and the southern United States, they took the legend of the loup-garou with them. Since the migration, many of the legends began to change to match the times and the dialect. Tell your version of this mythical creature in Louisiana in the comments below! The rougarou is like our Smokey the Bear, says Foret. These canine-humanoid shapeshifters travel between worlds using magical doors. Some sources claim the myth originated in medieval France, when belief in werewolves would have been far more prevalent. According to folklore, a Rougarou is a human that has been placed under a spell. All the cliches are therethey come out at night mostly. When French settlers came to Louisiana, the story came with them. According to Native American legends, theres a creature in Terrebonne Parish that is the spirit of a child reincarnated as a beast. 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.