rougarou sightings in louisiana

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. 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. A close friend of the family who was on his way to pick up his girlfriend, she lived down the street from my dad. The Cajuns (also known as Acadians) are an ethnic group that makes up a significant portion of south Louisianas population. A lover of tasty meat, he lurks in swamps and hunts down unsuspecting humans. Rougarou Fest | Houma, Louisiana Beasts called loup-garous, which means werewolves in French, were also infamous throughout the country. Theres an annual Rougarou Festival in Houma every year, and the Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has a Rougarou exhibit, which includes a statue of the creature in all its swampy glory. We love meat too, but come on. http://www.gcbro.com/LAassumption03-12-2016.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. No purchase necessary. The Rougarou, also known as the loup-garou, is essentially Louisiana's bayou-dwelling werewolf, and it's a prominent figure in Cajun folklore. 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. THE ROUGAROU - Folklore, Myths & Legends Let us know in the comments below! A woman reports that several nights before the actual sighting there was something rummaging around underneath ther house. It was a full moon so it made spotting the Bullfrogs easier "super tasty btw", anyway we're wondering down by the . We all have a notion that this world is a lot stranger than it seems on a surface level. Folklore will have us believe that a Rougarou has the opportunity to change back to a human after 101 days, but only after finding another human who is willing to have the curse transferred to them. 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. ", This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. 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. It was getting late so I was heading back to my dad's house for the evening. When they were choosing the new name, one of the trademarks filed for was the name the New Orleans Rougarou. The bright lights of the stars flicker in the murky licks of the waves near the towering, ominous Cypress trees. As outlandish as that sounds some of the very details in this essay support that. Official Blog of Pelican State Credit Union. 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. How does it differ from a traditional werewolf? Don't Miss The Best Festival In Louisiana, The Rougarou Fest Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. The article contained a short anecdotal account of an unnamed Laplace man that in 1983 saw something correlates with what Mr. Nameless saw. The cryptid, usually described as a towering, hairy monster, is allegedly a human cursed to take beastly form. I had relatives that lived in Covington," Brettel said. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. In the late summer of the early 90's (actual year up for debate), I was riding my bike. The Rougarou, Beast of the Louisiana Bayou, Gets a Makeover One man hopes to turn the wolfish cryptid into a mascot for saving the state's imperiled wetlands. However, according to other accounts, there is no escape from the curse. 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. Some have claimed it to be the body of a Rougarou, though others have speculated it might be a Chupacabra or Devil Monkey. 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 decided to turn around and go back the direction they came to avoid a close encounter with this unknown, imposing, bipedal creature. 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. 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. Dragons, once the ultimate test of a heros courage, have been effectively domesticated. Local stories say the Rougarou roams the streets at night, antagonizing people to attack it. 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. A close friend of the family who was on . 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During this time, however, the Rougarou was called Loup-garou. Sam and Dean had a struggle with this one. Since Cajun dialect is a mix of French and English and well-known for changing words completely to roll off the tongue easier, the name of the beast changed from loup-garou to Rougarou (also spelled roux-ga-roux, rugaroo, or rugaru). 51. Near Avenue A around 9pm, He arrived at the scene and spoke to the lady that called it in. Definitely a loup-garou. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Stories of cajun folklore monsters have been passed down for decadescenturies even. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. 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.. Their property backs up to a vast cypress swamp. Were you told the story of the Rougarou as . 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. The rougarou is like our Smokey the Bear, says Foret. Just hope this Louisiana monster doesnt get hold of you. 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. The Rougarou is a legendary creature that is often depicted on shirts, cups, and other forms of merchandise. However, due to its incredibly poor math skills, the beast can only count to 12. 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. All the cliches are therethey come out at night mostly. And above all else, remember thisdont go into the swamps alone! Rougaroux Rum, manufactured by donner-peltier distillers in Thibodaux, Louisiana, has a special praline-flavored version called Rougaroux 13 Pennies. Were not afraid. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. Mr. Nameless wasnt sure what he saw, but I was convinced. 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. I tend to lean more on the flesh and blood theory but I think it is important to keep all possibilities in play. They are a defining characteristic of Louisiana culture and make the state a truly unique place to live. Cajun legend says that the beast hunts down Catholics who don't follow the rules of Lent. People say, behind the disguises, theyre really the spirits of babies who died before baptism. The Rougarou: Louisiana's Werewolf. - Paranomaly Podcast Aside from snakes and alligators, there are lots of predators and other scary things living there. Even if I didnt believe his story, I believe his demeanor when recounting it. 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. See. A quick browse and youll find many pictures of the Rougarou. Back in the day of armor, swords and jousting, there was a lot more to fear than the plague and witches. And we value equal representation for allso they deserve a spot on our list of the scariest Louisiana monsters! Upright Canine (Possible 'Rougarou') Encountered in Beauregard Parish Loup is French for Wolf, and Garou refers to a man that transforms into an animal. Long, thin arm attached to a 6 to 7 foot frame. 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. Where are you from? Kliebert got no response. This is similar to that of a traditional werewolf, however, unlike a werewolf, the Rougarou during the day appears weak, sickly, and vulnerable. Legend says that the Rougarou will hunt these individuals down and suck their blood, feeding on their energy for up to 101 days. 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. The Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has an exhibit dedicated to the Rougarou, which includes a statue of the creature itself. The Rougarou has a varied history, though all variations seem to trace it back to the French. 1983 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. I grew up that way and you would hear about strange things.. I am using it as research for a short story that I am wtiting. I was thinking the same. The Rougarou, Beast of the Louisiana Bayou, Gets a Makeover. Once the human is cursed, it is permanent. Out of the shaking bush came a large hairy arm, grabbed a handful of leaves then went back in. The creature ran two city blocks before absconding into the marsh. We do have water spirits, such as Leviathan, a giant alligator spirit, who is actually mentioned in the Bible. Curious Louisiana answers. Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have successfully subscribed to the PeachTown newsletter. I spent a couple summers in Sabine Parish out on North Fort Fort Polk on a tract of ground called Peason Ridge(Little Nam). Overall, Weve seen the evolution of the werewolf become a more sophisticated, debonair character, Ancelet says. In this region; cities, towns, and neighborhoods tend to arise on the dry patches of earth that are surrounded by vast, thick, primordial swamp. The Rougarou: Louisiana's Cajun Werewolf - Exemplore Then my son started asking me about the rougarou legend and I was like a wha t? 61 when they saw a creature pop up out from the bank of the canal that parallels Airline. Crafty. There also exist more supernatural explanations for the origins of the Rougarou. I think its fascinating,'' said Brettel. Like the childhood game of telephone, the story morphs over the years as it gets passed down from generation to generation. Years later the seminary student was watching a television program about Bigfoot and they played audio of a suspected Sasquatch. 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. 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. Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. Louisiana native. 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 sounds stopped just before it would have broke the tree line and became visible. Have you ever heard of the Rougarou or another scary Louisiana monster before? It was eventually through the Cajun French that the name Rougarou came to be. Every year in October, there is a festival held in downtown Houma called the Rougarou Fest. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. In this article, were going to highlight the top 9 Louisiana monsters from folklore and legends. The concepts surrounding the Rougarous supernatural abilities link it closely with traditional concepts of the mythical werewolf. The cousins were ridding toward the creature when they spotted it walking on side of the road in their direction. 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. Generations of youngsters have heard the scary tales. One of the most compelling reports occurred in Marrero, LA circa 1970. A monster? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Design a site like this with WordPress.com. Ready for the creatures that will haunt you in your sleep? A Police officer and his partner, responding to a neighborhood prowler call. He flagged me down to speak with me. Stories of these cajun folklore spirits originated in French culture and made their way into Louisiana folklore over time. 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. In Assumption Parish it is common place for house to be built substantially off the ground to withstand inevitable flood waters. 10/8/21: Rougarou - an American Skinwalker in Louisiana W/ Seth 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. 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. The Rougarou is an important figure in Cajun legends. [12] This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. He slowed down when he saw it because he got the impression that this was not a man. He was only about 100 yards away when it crossed so a person would not of had time to get far enough to disappear into the swamp. Once the girl was halfway to the vehicle she noticed her friend was still standing at the front door of the house. 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. Another Louisiana swamp creature that seems rooted in lore is none other than the Rougarou, which is basically a Cajun version of the werewolf. Considering how many hunters love senselessly killing wild boars, we really cant blame the swamp monster. Where can you find a Rougarou? The woman also reported finding hair all over the yard front steps, and porch. 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. The officer reported that the creature crossed a 22 foot wide street in three strides. I had almost forgot about it since no one answered phone when I wanted to tell someone what I just seen was so weird. There wasnt much to his story, but the seriousness of his delivery, and the apparent reluctance to tell me, gave his words credence. The mud was too sloppy to retain any prints. Cajun legend says that the beast hunts down Catholics who dont follow the rules of Lent, which is similar to the telling of the old French stories. The seminary student had the urge to run back to the monastery to tell someone but a thought emerged NO. The Husband also described the creature as being dark in color and large. Full report can be found on http://www.gcbro.com/LAassumption03-12-2016.html. The giant was walking westerly at a quick pace with a sorrowful but purposeful look. Immense fear or indifference could be contributed to psychic phenomena that are sometimes reported with these types of sightings. The anonyms Laplace man said he was out near Ruddock with a friend, they were clearing land with a bulldozer when they came across footprints in the mud that were at least 19 inches in length. The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival Just Might Be Louisianas Biggest And Baddest Foodie Event, The Historic Restaurant In Louisiana Where You Can Still Experience The Old American South, Treat Yourself To A Homemade Ice Cream Cone At The Sweetport In Louisiana, This Train Restaurant In Louisiana Is The Most Enchanting Place To Eat, 7 Folktales, Legends, and Superstitions Every Louisianian Has Heard At Least Once, The Sinister Story Behind This Popular Louisiana Swamp Will Give You Chills, The Story Behind This Legendary Swamp Monster In Louisiana Will Give You The Chills, 7 Creepy Louisiana Ghost Stories That Will Make You Sleep With The Lights On, Wanderluster/E+ Collection via Getty Images, Cavan Images/Cavan Collection via Getty Images, Troy Harrison/Moment Collection via Getty Images, 2ndLookGraphics/E+ Collection via Getty Images. That festival is cool because it links folklore to current issues and things that people need to be aware of, Rabalais says. Save the Swamp: But, Beware the "Rougarou" - The National Wildlife Louisiana has a Nightmare on Bourbon Street situation going on that some arent aware of. After the initial sighting by the husband, the wife reported that a neighbor came by in an adjatated state. 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. The Most Haunted Louisiana Road: Bayou Sale Road This is why I always read terms and conditions. I had been riding my bike through the trails in the woods that were in the back of Laplace Park. 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. Full report can be found at http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. 10 Creepy Facts and Legends about New Orleans - Hotels Tell your version of this mythical creature in Louisiana in the comments below! The Rougarou is also thought to be nothing more than a bogeyman story to scare children or Catholics into obedience. Discover the secrets of Louisiana lifestyle and explore Ruston, home of the Peach Festival. Thank you! The Sinister Story Behind This Popular Louisiana Swamp Will Give You Here's what health officials, restaurants say. 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. "The swamp is often seen as a dangerous place, with dangerous animals and everything . My Encounter With a Rougarou "aka Louisiana Werewolf". The Rougarou ---- The Louisiana Swamp Monster - YouTube The brave friend stated that something in her mind told her to look ahead. Rougarou the Louisiana Monster Werewolf - Any Mystery When French settlers came to Louisiana, the story came with them. Perrin's statement is quite obviously true due to the Rougarou's clear influence on local culture and beyond. I used to have nightmares including the Rougarou as a kid and seeing this is crazy that its something based on my home state. Across French Louisiana, it is a very common legend, and most Louisiana natives are very familiar with at least the name, if nothing else. 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. 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. The two children ran the entire way home, about of a mile. A large dark figure on two legs crossed the road. Legend of the Rougarou, a Louisiana werewolf - Paranormal Outlaw Foret recalls hearing of one legendary rougarou run-in, when a young boy out for a stroll, armed with only his oyster knife, encountered the creature. Its incredible that I actually witnessed one and I do believe thats the only thing it couldve been. 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. Outside of the infamous Honey Island Swamp Monster, there were not many stories that I found in my preliminary search. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. People claim he leaves behind webbed footprints (presumably to navigate the swamps effectively) and mutilates wild boars. Turns out voodoo is still in. On the last Saturday in October in the city of Houma, Rougarou Fest is held. It was enough just enough working knowledge for me to form an opinion. Over the decades, numerous people have talked of an ape-like creature or creatures living in swamps. Werewolves have transformed, too, and not just into the Teen Wolf tv show and movie. The Rougarou roams the bayou in search for misbehaving children to frighten. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

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