When they were choosing the new name, one of the trademarks filed for was the name the New Orleans Rougarou. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have successfully subscribed to the PeachTown newsletter. The monsters reputed locale, in the Honey Island Swamp, has an ominous and deadly history that precedes the legend. The cousins decided to turn around and go back the direction they came to avoid a close encounter with this unknown, imposing, bipedal creature. Get more stories delivered right to your email. It ended up passing within 15 yards of Mr. Klibert. Frogs croak their songs in the distance and mosquitos buzz as they fly around looking for their next meal. Wow, this is most definitely going to be my art project gonna be difficult but I'll get it done. In the same story from The Nicholls Worth, the author, Brandon Folse, heavily quotes Patricia Perrin, a retired English instructor and folklore specialist. In this version, the Rougarou would live life as a normal person until some event occurred that triggered their condition. The Rougarou at Cedar Point is one example of many as to how popular the folklore surrounding the beast truly is. 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. The Cajuns (also known as Acadians) are an ethnic group that makes up a significant portion of south Louisianas population. He and his partner were a part of a unit in Jefferson Parish that were first responders to criminal calls, making this a most credible report. No, you dont become a Rougarou from a bite or scratch, or from losing a bet. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. See. For those of you who haven't heard th. "The swamp is often seen as a dangerous place, with dangerous animals and everything . It has the face of a canine with many sharp, frightening teeth. Thanks for sharing it with us! One of the most compelling reports occurred in Marrero, LA circa 1970. People claim he leaves behind webbed footprints (presumably to navigate the swamps effectively) and mutilates wild boars. She witnessed someone slinking around her property. Once the cousin jumped back on they yelled GO! They did not look back after that. Once the rougarou settled into southern Louisianas swampy shadows, it took on some aspects of local Native American cryptids, such as a legendary Choctaw shapeshifting owl-witch. It's okay, because we're here to bust them! Outside of Louisiana, the Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio has a rollercoaster named Rougarou. Proud foodie. The two young women decided they would go to the car together. This sighting took place just north of the Manchac Swamp region, about a quarter mile away from Hwy. Get monthly email updates and the chance to win a prize. If you have lived in Louisiana, there is a significant chance you have heard the lore of the Rougarou (also spelled as Rouxgaroux). The friend forgot her purse in the car. 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. I used to have nightmares including the Rougarou as a kid and seeing this is crazy that its something based on my home state. Required fields are marked *. A simple yet effective trick to protect oneself from the beast. After being spotted, the creature ran between two houses then continued to the street when it passed under a streetlight. Why do Bud's Broiler's burger prices conflict? 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. Only you can prevent forest fires, and so only you can save Louisianas wetlands.. 51. Most Christians believe any spirit that is not a holy one is a demonic spirit. The Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has an exhibit dedicated to the Rougarou, which includes a statue of the creature itself. 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. I am using it as research for a short story that I am wtiting. Is there really a Honey Island Swamp Monster, Louisiana's Bigfoot? The Legends Of The Rougarou In Louisiana May Send Chills Down Your Spine Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. Thats what we in Louisiana call the Rougarou, cher. Generations of children have heard the scary. Terrebonne Parish resident Jonathan Foret was a type of kids. Years later, as a middle school teacher, hed mention the beast to his students only to learn theyd never heard of it. 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. It was also preached that French Catholics that broke the Lent seven years in a row would be hunted down and killed by the beast. A lover of tasty meat, he lurks in swamps and hunts down unsuspecting humans. Curious Louisiana answers. Required fields are marked *. 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 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. 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. The beast is also a hit in pop culture here in Louisiana. They are a defining characteristic of Louisiana culture and make the state a truly unique place to live. It was late in the evening when Mr. Nameless flagged me down. According to these legends, the Rougarou when it comes across the pennies will begin to count them. Nope, not The GrinchThe Grunch. Cajun legend says that the beast hunts down Catholics who don't follow the rules of Lent. In closing Ive always considered Yeti to be more of a possibility than a werewolf. Thank you! Louisiana has a Nightmare on Bourbon Street situation going on that some arent aware of. 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. 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. "I think that there's magic in the swamps that's celebrated at Rougarou," Foret says. When they reached the paved section of the driveway, PB noticed a dead 90 lb male Bobcat laying along the edge. The legend of the Rougaou goes back hundreds of years, originating in France. 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. I believe that people are seeing these poor mangy bears instead of werewolves. Will Seals' home was set afire and he was shot down while trying to escape the flames. 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 Native American legends, theres a creature in Terrebonne Parish that is the spirit of a child reincarnated as a beast. The legend is believed to have originated from French Canadian immigrants in the late 1700's. There are hundreds of light . 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. He flagged me down to speak with me. I heard sounds Ive never heard and smells Id never smelled but never spied anything. 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. Ruston doesnt have a swamp, but if it did. He told me how past the railroad track, near the lake they had some deer in a fenced in area. Mr. Nameless admitted that he did not want to slow down to get a good look. [10] [11] Boxer Regis Prograis (of Creole descent) goes by the nickname Rougarou. The creature stood upright on two legs. The rougarou (or loup-garou) is a monster from Cajun folklore. A quick browse and youll find many pictures of the Rougarou. It was getting late so I was heading back to my dad's house for the evening. Some even suggest a mix of biological and fringe. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Were you told the story of the Rougarou as . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. On the last Saturday in October in the city of Houma, Rougarou Fest is held. I was compelled to dig in further to see if I could find more sighting reports in the Southeast Louisiana area, if only to substantiate these other reports. Louisiana native. Had me captured. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. 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. Standing on two legs on top of a fallen, moss-covered tree is a large, snarling beast. It was enough just enough working knowledge for me to form an opinion. Logic would dictate that any such creature living in southeast Louisiana would appear thinner in both frame and hair because of the climate and wet conditions. Some versions of the myth involve witchcraft, wherein a witch has the ability to curse someone to be a Rougarou. 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. 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Stories of cajun folklore monsters have been passed down for decadescenturies even. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It was near 2am and both parties were hesitant to walk to the car to retrieve the purse. About half way back to the railroad crossing, 100 yards up the 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. 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. Turns out voodoo is still in. Can you really only eat oysters in 'r' months? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have successfully subscribed to the PeachTown newsletter. I realized that parts of our folklore and our oral traditions were getting lost, he says. The Rougarou has also been tied to the story of the Deridder Roadkill. Deep in the rural wooded swamp of Livingston Parish and young girl was having a friend of hers spend the night. It was a full moon so it made spotting the Bullfrogs easier "super tasty btw", anyway we're wondering down by the . Its rumored that Lutins can take any form, including cats (especially white ones), hobgoblins, elves, and other strange creatures. Cauchemar is a monster that leaps out of childrens dreams and rides their backs. 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. If you thought voodoo was a thing of the past, think again! After years of inbreeding, their appearance became less and less human-like, resulting in what people now call The Grunch. According to reports, this Louisiana monster looks human, except for his sharp teeth, goat legs, and many abnormalities. The story of the Letieche is Louisianas Jungle Book. Loup-garou. 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. There is also a Native American story of the "Rugaru." Was there really a monster in the swamps? The monster has its own Wikipedia pageand has been the source of numerous news stories and documentaries. Full report can be found at http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. A woman reports that several nights before the actual sighting there was something rummaging around underneath ther house. He hides in tall grass near Grunch Road in New Orleans, LA, waiting to prey on teens who park there. Its a hybrid mixture of escaped circus chimpanzees and alligators which now live in the swamps of St. Tammany Parish. There's more to this 19th-century crime than the dark side of fairy lore. But for decades, hes wondered about one of the swamp's fabled creatures the Honey Island Swamp Monster, a legendary 500-pound beast that some claim hides amid the cypress trees andmurky waters. Just hope this Louisiana monster doesnt get hold of you. The rougarou is closely related to the European version of the werewolf but has a few very distinct differences from the wolfmen seen in movies and on television. Since the migration, many of the legends began to change to match the times and the dialect. I tend to lean more on the flesh and blood theory but I think it is important to keep all possibilities in play. 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. "I heard the story from veteran hunters. The commuter stated that the headlights of his car shined directly onto the creature so they got a pretty good look at it. 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. If your keys go missing without explanation, it could be a Lutin! For the original report of this sighting visit bfro.net Report #2764, Late October, near Sorrento, Louisiana a commuter was heading home. I had been riding my bike through the trails in the woods that were in the back of Laplace Park. Personally, Id never hear about something terrible and say, Yep, thats definitely the work of a werewolf. He told me it made no since for someone to be crossing the road at that point. I remember he kept repeating something to the effect of look, Im not sure what I saw. At that time the only reference I had to Bigfoot was a few TV shows and a book I checked out a few times from my schools library. The Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has an exhibit dedicated to the Rougarou, which includes a statue of the creature itself. Long, thin arm attached to a 6 to 7 foot frame. 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. In this region; cities, towns, and neighborhoods tend to arise on the dry patches of earth that are surrounded by vast, thick, primordial swamp. There also exist more supernatural explanations for the origins of the Rougarou. For centuries, if you didnt follow Catholic traditions, such as observing Lent, or if you hunted on holy days, the rougarou would get you. They appear as fluorescent balls of light which loom over the marshlands of Louisiana. 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 creature, also called Loup garou, is so popular it was depicted on the hit television series Supernatural. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Who knows what it is? I want more! 9 Scariest Louisiana Monsters from Folklore, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Rougarou, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Cauchemar, Best Resistance Bands for Home Workouts in 2021. 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. How safe are you from this magnificent monster? By the end, youll know the scariest rumors circulating in cajun land. 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. The giant was walking westerly at a quick pace with a sorrowful but purposeful look. A spell that as you will soon find out is not that easy to break. According to Cajun folklore, the monster is said to inhabit the swamps and sugar cane fields around the Acadiana and Greater New Orleans regions. They take up residence in your home and play harmless tricks on you, so you shouldnt be too alarmed. Bears can stand up and run on their hind legs, whereas, wolves cannot. There she saw standing next to a tree 25 feet away a creature that she described as being extremely tall and white. 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. 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. More than a millennium ago, vampires were demonic vectors of disease, possibly reflecting the very real threat of rabies. Back in the day of armor, swords and jousting, there was a lot more to fear than the plague and witches. The K-9 unit lost the scent once it ran into the marsh. 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. In this version, the Rougarou is in human form during the day, only transforming at night, meaning he could blend in with society and no one would ever know! 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 Bible tells us to test the spirit(s) to see if it (they) come from God. . I spent a couple summers in Sabine Parish out on North Fort Fort Polk on a tract of ground called Peason Ridge(Little Nam). To kill some time before his date, Mr. Nameless decided to take an evening cruise down Peavine Road to the lake. This legendary creature of Cajun folklore is often depicted in literature and images as a man with a wolfs or dogs head. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. Local stories say the Rougarou roams the streets at night, antagonizing people to attack it. Case closed. This was one interesting problem that they had to deal with centuries ago. And as the stomping grounds for the rougarou have disappeared, so have tales about the beastuntil Foret made it his mission to save both. By clicking "Accept," you agree to the use of cookies on Pelican State of Mind. Two dead squirrels and a dead rabbit were found under the house where the creature had been rummaging. The Rougarou will see the 13 objects, try to count them, and be unable to count them all. When many of the French migrated to Canada and the southern United States, they took the legend of the loup-garou with them. 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. 1983 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. Let us know in the comments below! The Rougarou at Cedar Point is a prime example of Rougarou supernatural popularity. In the late summer of the early 90's (actual year up for debate), I was riding my bike. In the article, we will attempt to answer these questions and more. What he described to me, in my mind was a Bigfoot sighing. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. There are many people in Louisiana who practice magic and wish curses upon us. You can find information on the legend of Cauchemar in folklore from all around the world, and it even exists in the Deep South. Described as looking like a sloth, the creature was covered in a light grey hair, had a small round head and a brown nose. In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. When French settlers came to Louisiana, the story came with them. According to the deputies, the Honey Island Swamp was a hellhole where criminals and monsters thrived. Ready for the creatures that will haunt you in your sleep? Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a voodoo priestess. I got more specific with my search terms and soon stumbled upon something that reignited the idea of a creature like Bigfoot existing in our parts. He has the body of a man, head of a werewolf, and sharp teeth that can seamlessly tear through flesh. ", This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Jerry Major's Curious Louisiana question is more than an inquiry about a pronunciation. I had relatives that lived in Covington," Brettel said. "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 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. The Rougarou is an important figure in Cajun legends. You have permission to edit this article. Honey Island Swamp Monster The Rougarou Supernatural Cameo Explained, Legend of the Rougarou: The Complete Loup-garou Guide, US Ghost Adventures New Orleans Ghosts Review. The story of the Rougarou (the Louisiana swamp monster) is not a new tale to anyone that lives or grew up in Louisiana. A long-simmering proposal to dam the Pearl River near Jackson, Miss., has prompted concerns in southeast Louisina and southwest Mississippi about how such a project would impact the lower Pearl River. Driving west on Airline Hwy. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. 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. In this article, were going to highlight the top 9 Louisiana monsters from folklore and legends. Sam and Dean had a struggle with this one. 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 short answer is oral tradition. Stories of these cajun folklore spirits originated in French culture and made their way into Louisiana folklore over time. 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. But as someone who lives in Louisiana and knows many Catholics who break Lent, I'm not so sure about this myth's validity. Curious Louisiana explains it's not all random. 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. Dont believe us? Were not afraid. The hybrid whimpering could still be heard, and was clear and near, but still no visible sign of what was producing these sounds. Apparently that was a thing they did back then. In 1989 this man was alone on top of the levee near Bayou Steel; He was waiting for his brother to meet him to go hunting behind the levee. And we value equal representation for allso they deserve a spot on our list of the scariest Louisiana monsters! Near Avenue A around 9pm, He arrived at the scene and spoke to the lady that called it in. It sounds like a wolf, but somethings a little off. 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.. "I think it's fascinating,'' said Brettel. As it gets to 13, it becomes confused. Out hunting for deer, Hubert was perched atop an oak tree when he heard heavy sounds approaching from the woods behind him. Dragons, once the ultimate test of a heros courage, have been effectively domesticated. This suggests an explanation for the abundance of stories from locals about seeing a Rougarou for themselves.