Hi, I live in Terrebonne Parish near swampy land that was formerly called Devils Swamp. The rougarou (or loup-garou) is a monster from Cajun folklore. It is said that you can protect yourself against the Rougarou by laying 13 small objects by your doors. No purchase necessary. The friend forgot her purse in the car. Our parents would say things like, you better behave or the rougarou is gonna get you, says Jonathan Foret, a native of Terrebonne Parish, a patchwork of bayou and lowlands on the Gulf shore. Deep throughout the swamps of south Louisiana, legend has it, there lives the Rougarou a legendary werewolf type creature with sharp Then my son started asking me about the rougarou legend and I was like a wha t? Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. 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. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. The Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has an exhibit dedicated to the Rougarou, which includes a statue of the creature itself. A cattle bridge that crossed the Yellow Water River was mentioned as a landmark in the report. For instance, instead of labourer, meaning to plow, sometimes youll hear Cajuns say rabourer. 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. But as someone who lives in Louisiana and knows many Catholics who break Lent, I'm not so sure about this myth's validity. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. She knew that if she told her husband what happened, she may remain under the Rougarou's spell forever, so she was forced to keep her secret for 101 days. It is said that you can protect yourself against the Rougarou by laying 13 small objects by your doors. 22.4K subscribers 36K views 6 years ago #bigfoot #paranormal Make sure you check out this video!. Rougarou custom jerseys on sale now! Thanks for sharing it with us! Generations of youngsters have heard the scary tales. Generations of children have heard the scary. Other more out there schools of thought would suggest that these creatures or of a different origin, Alien, Spirit, even faerie. In closing Ive always considered Yeti to be more of a possibility than a werewolf. Despite the Rougarou legend seemingly beginning as a way to scare Catholics and children, many locals maintain its existence and have their own personal stories, especially among the older generation. Sorcery is everywhere, and after repeated viewings of Hocus Pocus, we know what were dealing with. 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. Listen Live . 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. Kliebert tried to communicate with the giant, asking who are you? This terrifying creature has evolved over millenniabut never lost the need to feed. Some Louisiana monsters are walking around in plain sight! 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. Buy Tickets. Some have claimed it to be the body of a Rougarou, though others have speculated it might be a Chupacabra or Devil Monkey. In the article, we will attempt to answer these questions and more. Whereas the loup-garou in France roamed the forest looking for children, the rougarou of Southern Louisiana lurks about the Bayou looking for prey. The French actually have a similar story of the Loup-garou. Stories of these cajun folklore spirits originated in French culture and made their way into Louisiana folklore over time. They described it as a cross between a whimpering dog and human crying. The villagers would capture people they believed to be a loup-garou and then hold a public trial. Rougarou. The officer that reported this sighting stated he and his partner did not discuss this much past that night. However, many people also believe it's just a dog. Back in the 16th century, theyd regularly blame various crimes on loup-garous. 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! Their body would then undergo a transformation, and they would develop a craving for meat. Heed our warning and be on the look out for cajun folklore monsters when youre roaming the wildest parts of the bayou state. Children can see and hear everything that happens, but they are unable to move. Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. Its a hybrid mixture of escaped circus chimpanzees and alligators which now live in the swamps of St. Tammany Parish. Full report can be found on bfro.net Report # 56107. The student would take evening walks while saying the rosary. All the cliches are therethey come out at night mostly. We love to hear your feedback. Driving west on Airline Hwy. Now, nearly 400 years since the legend of the Rougarou first began to circulate, people are encountering the creature once again. Standing on two legs on top of a fallen, moss-covered tree is a large, snarling beast. The student claimed it was the exact same sounds they heard during their encounter. Have you ever heard of the Rougarou? An unknown creature has been mutilating and killing animals and perhaps humans in southern Louisiana; some locals attribute the attacks to a rougarou. Had me captured. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. There's more to this 19th-century crime than the dark side of fairy lore. rougarou sightings in louisiana. 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. When the child saw the dog transform into a man, he dashed home to tell his family. Its too late to turn back! 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. Louisiana is a lovely place to visit. Such monster makeovers are common. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Two dead squirrels and a dead rabbit were found under the house where the creature had been rummaging. Cajun legend says that the Rougarou is under a 101-day curse, unless the affected person can transfer the curse to another human being. Discover the secrets of Louisiana lifestyle and explore Ruston, home of the Peach Festival. Case closed. This was one interesting problem that they had to deal with centuries ago. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. Get more stories delivered right to your email. The creature ran two city blocks before absconding into the marsh. The name Rougarou (Loup-Garou) is a French term meaning warewolf. These loup-garous became a fear for many people in the country, leading to them earning their place in legends passed down to children. Kliebert was stunned when he saw this giant approaching him. upper neuadd reservoir history 1; downtown dahlonega webcam 1; permeated by a sense of longing. Once turned around, the cousin looked back and observed the creature now walking in the middle of the road and at a quicker pace toward the children. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Dec. 20, 2016 - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has confirmed photographic evidence of a cougar sighting in northeast Louisiana on Nov. 23.An LDWF biologist conducted a site investigation that confirmed the authenticity of a trail camera picture submitted to the department. However, according to other accounts, there is no escape from the curse. The lady said, "The next day, a distinguished physician arrived in town with his right arm bandaged and cut. 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, This Enchanting And Historic Town In Louisiana Is The Perfect Day Trip Destination, Best Hotels & Resorts in Louisiana: 12 Amazing Places to Stay, 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. Stumbling upon the LObservateur article reignited my borderline obsessive interest in these types of creature sightings. While most likely these stories are cautionary tales meant to keep kids from wandering into dangerous situations, it does make you think! Thank you! 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.. Legend says a group of albino dwarves isolated themselves from society in the woods just outside of New Orleans. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Let us know in the comments below! The few folks that lay eyes on these creatures are simply catching an interloper just visiting. The Rougarou, also known as the loup-garou, is essentially Louisiana's bayou-dwelling werewolf, and it's a prominent figure in Cajun folklore. Other variations say a Rougarou can turn their victims merely by making eye contact. Perrin's statement is quite obviously true due to the Rougarou's clear influence on local culture and beyond. 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. 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. 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. Cauchemar actually means nightmare in Louisiana French and Creole. The Rougarou is often also associated with the Skunk Ape or the Honey Island Swamp Monster, likely due to another variation of the myth that states the creature is a shapeshifter that can change forms between human and animal at will, sometimes making it seem more like a swamp Sasquatch than a werewolf. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road and. Loup-Garous became a fear for many people in the 16th Century medieval French folklore name... 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