The seminary student had the urge to run back to the monastery to tell someone but a thought emerged NO. Some versions of the myth involve witchcraft, wherein a witch has the ability to curse someone to be a Rougarou. In this region; cities, towns, and neighborhoods tend to arise on the dry patches of earth that are surrounded by vast, thick, primordial swamp. I had been riding my bike through the trails in the woods that were in the back of Laplace Park. Your email address will not be published. On the last Saturday in October in the city of Houma, Rougarou Fest is held. When this is done on the 101st after the curse was initially placed, the former Rougarou is freed from the curse and allowed to take human form permanently. Is there a Louisiana werewolf? And, if you know anything about sleep paralysis, you may have seen the culprit himself! There she saw standing next to a tree 25 feet away a creature that she described as being extremely tall and white. Loup is French for Wolf, and Garou refers to a man that transforms into an animal. Were not afraid. I came across a LObservateur article that ran around Halloween 2002, titled: Let the haunting good times roll. Kliebert was stunned when he saw this giant approaching him. 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. Louisiana monsters have been the subject of controversy for years. Both the officer and his partner got a good look at the creature when it passed under the streetlight. Two dead squirrels and a dead rabbit were found under the house where the creature had been rummaging. Louisiana native. Like the childhood game of telephone, the story morphs over the years as it gets passed down from generation to generation. But first, lets dive into some of its histories. The lady said, "The next day, a distinguished physician arrived in town with his right arm bandaged and cut. 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. 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 . It was enough just enough working knowledge for me to form an opinion. Is there really a Honey Island Swamp Monster, Louisiana's Bigfoot? 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. If your keys go missing without explanation, it could be a Lutin! At the time of the encounter the officer had no working knowledge of Bigfoot or sasquatch, but having a degree in anthropology left no doubt in the officers mind what he saw was most defiantly not a large, naked, human being. The 12 year old that was operating the mini-bike accelerated so hard that thier cousin fell off the back. No purchase necessary. 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 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. Proud foodie. The brave friend stated that something in her mind told her to look ahead. Case closed. This was one interesting problem that they had to deal with centuries ago. "This thing had a flat back. The Rougarou is a legendary creature that is often depicted on shirts, cups, and other forms of merchandise. 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. Nothing is going to hurt me. The student also stated that he did not want to alarm the creature by running off. The short answer is oral tradition. 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. This legendary creature of Cajun folklore is often depicted in literature and images as a man with a wolfs or dogs head. Too afraid to move, he watched as a figure about 8 feet tall and hairy from head to toe passed slowly below him, eventually disappearing further into the woods. Back in the day of armor, swords and jousting, there was a lot more to fear than the plague and witches. While you're in Houma, don't forget to stop by A-Bear's, home to some of the most delicious homemade desserts in Louisiana. With the head of a werewolf and the body of a man, the creature is said to prey on misbehaving children and dates back to medieval France. Modern claims of Rougarou sightings are few and far between, however, unlike reports of something strange seen in the swamps of Honey Island. Lover of writing, learning and teaching others about new things. Your email address will not be published. I remember when the physician shot himself here in Lockport. When they were choosing the new name, one of the trademarks filed for was the name the New Orleans Rougarou. Address: Rougarou Fest, 7910 W Park Ave, Houma, LA 70364, USA. Who knows what it is? It was late in the evening when Mr. Nameless flagged me down. troy landrey talked about it on swamp people. Here's what health officials, restaurants say. Did a child disappear from the village without a trace? That's how I knew it wasnt a bear, another witness reported. 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 story of the Rougarou supposedly changed once French immigrantsor possibly also French-Canadian immigrantscame to live in the area that is now Louisiana. "I think it's fascinating,'' said Brettel. Despite being a monster of legends, just like its cousin the werewolf, the Rougarou has its weakness. The human animal sobbing sounds were also accompanied by the snapping of branches and the crackling of leaves that gave the impression of something large moving through the woods. Was there really a monster in the swamps? Legends of the Rougarou. I grew up that way and you would hear about strange things.. Despite your personal beliefs in the supernatural, these legends abound and continue to be told in the cajun lands to this day. He let his mind wander. 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 creature continued on as it reached a woody marsh area near a canal then disappeared. The monster has its own Wikipedia pageand has been the source of numerous news stories and documentaries. Required fields are marked *. It's okay, because we're here to bust them! As it gets to 13, it becomes confused. Many rumors haunt this road, also known as LA-57. The sounds stopped just before it would have broke the tree line and became visible. Theres a lot of blue tarps still on roofs everywhere, says Foret. In the legend, this beast is often described as having the body of a man and the head of a wolf or a dog and prowls Louisiana swamps looking for misbehaving children. She finally located the purse she grabbed it and quickly ran inside the house. The source of storms and an (occasional) kidnapper, the massive ancient beast has inspired muscle cars and jet fighters. 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. The cousins were ridding toward the creature when they spotted it walking on side of the road in their direction. He told himself if whatever that was jumps out at me, I can always hit the accelerator. When he got to the area where the creature crossed the road, he looked out the drivers side window but did not see anything. 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). The boy saw the dog turn into a man, then ran home to tell his family. Immense fear or indifference could be contributed to psychic phenomena that are sometimes reported with these types of sightings. At this point, you are probably wondering just how the legend began. Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a Voodoo priestess. The Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has an exhibit dedicated to the Rougarou, which includes a statue of the creature itself. The article contained a short anecdotal account of an unnamed Laplace man that in 1983 saw something correlates with what Mr. Nameless saw. The friend described a chilling encounter one warm morning. By the end, youll know the scariest rumors circulating in cajun land. We know what you are probably thinking. Hi, I live in Terrebonne Parish near swampy land that was formerly called Devils Swamp. Legend says that the Rougarou will hunt these individuals down and suck their blood, feeding on their energy for up to 101 days. Terrebonne Parish resident Jonathan Foret was a type of kids. You have permission to edit this article. Modern claims of Rougarou sightings are few and far between, however, unlike reports of something strange seen in the swamps of Honey Island. This a great article!! The Rougarou at Cedar Point is one example of many as to how popular the folklore surrounding the beast truly is. These stories were used to keep children in line and out of the woods. This sighting took place just north of the Manchac Swamp region, about a quarter mile away from Hwy. Love Louisiana? The Legends Of The Rougarou In Louisiana May Send Chills Down Your Spine Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. It was getting late so I was heading back to my dads house for the evening. Some legends of the beast say it can only be killed by fire, others say it can be killed while its in its vulnerable human form. However, due to its incredibly poor math skills, the beast can only count to 12. Driving west on Airline Hwy. Louisiana has a Nightmare on Bourbon Street situation going on that some arent aware of. http://www.gcbro.com/LAassumption03-12-2016.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. 1989 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. The brave friend continued on to the car, opened the door and started to feel around in the dark for the purse in the passenger seat. In the article, we will attempt to answer these questions and more. She describes the Rougarou as "an important identification marker for South Louisiana's culture." That these creatures are flesh and blood, but the reason they go undetected is because they are inter-dimensional beings that pop in and out of our reality. Cauchemar actually means nightmare in Louisiana French and Creole. Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. There also exist more supernatural explanations for the origins of the Rougarou. And we value equal representation for allso they deserve a spot on our list of the scariest Louisiana monsters! I tend to lean more on the flesh and blood theory but I think it is important to keep all possibilities in play. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. I was thinking the same. The officer that submitted this report has over 40 years in military and law enforcement, a degree in Anthropology, and self educated in Darwinism, math and quantum physics.
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