The Rougarou will see the 13 objects, try to count them, and be unable to count them all. . A 1981 report bywriter Jerry Breaux pulled from The Advocate archives recalls a conversation the writer had with his long-time friend, Hubert. 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. Legends of the Rougarou. Most Christians believe any spirit that is not a holy one is a demonic spirit. The creature is described as half-man, half-dog. In fact, instead of wolfish features, most Cajuns will describe the rougarou as resembling a dog or owl. This beast first sighted in 1963 is reminiscent of the popular DC character known as Swamp Thing. For instance, instead of labourer, meaning to plow, sometimes youll hear Cajuns say rabourer. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. Near Avenue A around 9pm, He arrived at the scene and spoke to the lady that called it in. ", This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. I remember when the physician shot himself here in Lockport. For instance, there is a legend that says placing 13 pennies at entrances you wish to protect is the way to go. Cauchemar actually means nightmare in Louisiana French and Creole. Glad the information was here. 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 body would then undergo a transformation, and they would develop a craving for meat. They are a defining characteristic of Louisiana culture and make the state a truly unique place to live. I want more! 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Their property backs up to a vast cypress swamp. 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. Outside of Louisiana, the Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio has a rollercoaster named Rougarou. 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." The trickster figure really went from being the bad guy, the one to watch out for, to being a hero, says Rabalais, adding that the shift reflected the reality of the people who told and retold the stories. Lapin, the trickster rabbit rooted in African folklore traditions that were brought to Louisiana by enslaved people, has also seen a transformation. 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 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. Frequently referred to as beast in the story, the part-man, part-animal with piercing yellow eyes has appeared in several anecdotes by self-styled witnesses since the 1960s. Local sanitation workers have supposedly reported seeing them raiding garbage cans or chasing trucks. As the name implies, it pays homage to the legendary beast. 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. Save the Swamp: But, Beware the "Rougarou" - The National Wildlife It is said that you can protect yourself against the Rougarou by laying 13 small objects by your doors. The story of the Rougarou (the Louisiana swamp monster) is not a new tale to anyone that lives or grew up in Louisiana. It was eventually through the Cajun French that the name Rougarou came to be. 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. Cauchemar is a monster that leaps out of childrens dreams and rides their backs. So this happened to me a few years ago, I was visiting a friend's house in the Houston River area, that section of the river is pretty swampy so we were frog hunting at night. Some versions of the myth involve witchcraft, wherein a witch has the ability to curse someone to be a Rougarou. Your email address will not be published. There was also a story that was told to kids that if they didnt do what their parents asked, a loup-garou would come and steal them away in the middle of the night. The Most Haunted Louisiana Road: Bayou Sale Road In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Stories of these cajun folklore spirits originated in French culture and made their way into Louisiana folklore over time. The Rougarou roams the bayou in search for misbehaving children to frighten. http://www.gcbro.com/LAassumption03-12-2016.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. 22. Southeast Louisiana Bigfoot Sightings - Rougarou's Cursed blog The Legends Of This Mythical Creature In Louisiana Are Terrifying The short answer is oral tradition. 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. The only credibility I can give to these reports is that they ran in the paper. 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. They described it as a cross between a whimpering dog and human crying. The article does not specify if this happened in the same area that he and his friend found the large footprints. French and Canadian settlers as they migrated brought with them the legend of the beast to Louisiana. Other variations say a Rougarou can turn their victims merely by making eye contact. During this time, however, the Rougarou was called Loup-garou. The source of storms and an (occasional) kidnapper, the massive ancient beast has inspired muscle cars and jet fighters. Louisiana Urban Legends, Monsters, and Haunted Places I dont remember verbatim what he told me that day but the gist of that conversation has stuck in my psyche with clarity for nearly 30 years. The commuter stated that the headlights of his car shined directly onto the creature so they got a pretty good look at it. This sighting took place just north of the Manchac Swamp region, about a quarter mile away from Hwy. 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. He checked out the deer kept driving and turned around at the lake headed back towards Hwy. Here's what health officials, restaurants say. The man heard a noise behind him; he turned around and witnessed two large, red eyes staring back at him. He hides in tall grass near Grunch Road in New Orleans, LA, waiting to prey on teens who park there. The man dropped his gun and ran. 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. Past participants have described the festival as fun, and until COVID it had managed to attract a decent crowd each year. She finally located the purse she grabbed it and quickly ran inside the house. I believe that people are seeing these poor mangy bears instead of werewolves. The New Orleans Pelicans had originally thought about changing their names from the Hornets to the Rougarous at one point! The Giants body appeared to be covered with reddish hair. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. It has the face of a canine with many sharp, frightening teeth. 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. This particular evening something strange caught the seminary students ear. I had relatives that lived in Covington," Brettel said. The earliest report takes place in the swampy forest of Back Vacherie in 1891.An excerpt from Along The River Road, Past and Present on LouisianasHistoric Byway by Mary Ann Sternberg. 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. At the annual October events rougarou costume contest, the fests mascot is reimagined hundreds of different ways, including as an eco-activist. Many rumors haunt this road, also known as LA-57. When the child saw the dog transform into a man, he dashed home to tell his family. We got kicked out of Nova Scotia, and now were getting kicked out of Louisiana and it just feels like theres some generational trauma linked to being forced to move over and over again, he says. I think its fascinating,'' said Brettel. More than a millennium ago, vampires were demonic vectors of disease, possibly reflecting the very real threat of rabies. Another Louisiana swamp creature that seems rooted in lore is none other than the Rougarou, which is basically a Cajun version of the werewolf. In one version, the beast hunts down and kills anyone who doesnt follow the rules of Lent. There are many people in Louisiana who practice magic and wish curses upon us. 1989 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. Strange noise ? 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. Full report can be found at http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. The Rougarou Supernatural Cameo Explained, Legend of the Rougarou: The Complete Loup-garou Guide, US Ghost Adventures New Orleans Ghosts Review. He slowed down when he saw it because he got the impression that this was not a man. If you have lived in Louisiana, there is a significant chance you have heard the lore of the Rougarou (also spelled as Rouxgaroux). "I heard the story from veteran hunters. The Legends Of The Rougarou In Louisiana May Send Chills Down Your Spine Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. Years later, as a middle school teacher, hed mention the beast to his students only to learn theyd never heard of it. Get monthly email updates and the chance to win a prize. Some sources claim the myth originated in medieval France, when belief in werewolves would have been far more prevalent. Your email address will not be published. It was enough just enough working knowledge for me to form an opinion. The seminary student had the urge to run back to the monastery to tell someone but a thought emerged NO. She described it also as being tall and hairy and went on to further say that it was almost so white it was glowing. She also described the creature to be staring in her direction. The few folks that lay eyes on these creatures are simply catching an interloper just visiting. The Rougarou: Louisiana's Cajun Werewolf - Exemplore You interact with them, theyre dancing and theyre nice. When the first drop of blood is drawn, the creature returns to human form and tells the attacker who it really is. 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. 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. 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. 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. Were you told the story of the Rougarou as . Overall, Weve seen the evolution of the werewolf become a more sophisticated, debonair character, Ancelet says. Their full transformation into their Rougarou form would be completed once they had their first bite of human flesh. These canine-humanoid shapeshifters travel between worlds using magical doors. Thats no werewolf, though. The next day Mr. Nameless, his older brother, and a mutual friend went ride back out to Peavine. It ended up passing within 15 yards of Mr. Klibert. 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 stated that something in her mind told her to look ahead. Was there really a monster in the swamps? What he described to me, in my mind was a Bigfoot sighing. Some Louisiana monsters are walking around in plain sight! According to some other accounts, the process of transferring the curse involves the willingly human drawing the blood of the Rougarou. 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. 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. The Rougarou (Cedar Point) roller coaster is located at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. Hi, I live in Terrebonne Parish near swampy land that was formerly called Devils Swamp.