The Rougarou, also known as the loup-garou, is essentially Louisiana's bayou-dwelling werewolf, and it's a prominent figure in Cajun folklore. Their full transformation into their Rougarou form would be completed once they had their first bite of human flesh. The story of the Rougarou (the Louisiana swamp monster) is not a new tale to anyone that lives or grew up in Louisiana. To my surprise I got text response saying Im outside in my backyard if you want to come over, its not much of a story. I remember it was a brief encounter and not many details but my objective was to write down what he remembered from his perspective, rather than a second-hand accounting from my childhood perspective. 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. Was there really a monster in the swamps? This was a deep dense pine forest with rolling Knolls and the occasion small marsh(bayou). See. By clicking "Accept," you agree to the use of cookies on Pelican State of Mind. It's okay, because we're here to bust them! What he described to me, in my mind was a Bigfoot sighing. Discovering the Rougarou - ArcGIS StoryMaps Some even suggest a mix of biological and fringe. 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. Like the childhood game of telephone, the story morphs over the years as it gets passed down from generation to generation. And then I realized that is what I saw! 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 . These Louisiana monsters claim they feel lethargic and drained if they dont get the proper serving size of blood in on the regular. The Rougarou: Louisiana's Cajun Werewolf - Exemplore According to these legends, the Rougarou when it comes across the pennies will begin to count them. In the article, we will attempt to answer these questions and more. She says a local boy was being followed by a dog when he decided to cut it with his pocketknife. How safe are you from this magnificent monster? The Grunch: A Chupacabra on the Louisiana Bayou - Exemplore Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a voodoo priestess. The brave friend stated that something in her mind told her to look ahead. 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. A human would have a substantial amount of trouble walking through the terrain. The hybrid whimpering could still be heard, and was clear and near, but still no visible sign of what was producing these sounds. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. A quick browse and youll find many pictures of the Rougarou. Legend says that the Rougarou will hunt these individuals down and suck their blood, feeding on their energy for up to 101 days. Oh wow that sounds like an interested read, Bill! In closing Ive always considered Yeti to be more of a possibility than a werewolf. 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. Not in the Pacific Northwest, but right there in Laplace! 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. A spell that as you will soon find out is not that easy to break. 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 few seconds passes and she started to feel a fear building inside. When French settlers came to Louisiana, the story came with them. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Talk of the monster, of course, is also a staple of some of the swamp tours operating in the area. The Rougarou (Cedar Point) roller coaster is located at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. 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. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. The unfortunate person is under the spell for 101 days. For instance, in 2015, the floorless roller coaster Mantis was renamed Rougarou. They take up residence in your home and play harmless tricks on you, so you shouldnt be too alarmed. Save the Swamp: But, Beware the "Rougarou" - The National Wildlife In fact, instead of wolfish features, most Cajuns will describe the rougarou as resembling a dog or owl. "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. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Loup-garou. 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. Thank you! Louisiana has a Nightmare on Bourbon Street situation going on that some arent aware of. Full report can be found at http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html. Past participants have described the festival as fun, and until COVID it had managed to attract a decent crowd each year. If you werent already aware, New Orleans has a prominent vampire subculture. Legend of the Rougarou, a Louisiana werewolf - The Daily Advertiser The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The 12 year old that was operating the mini-bike accelerated so hard that thier cousin fell off the back. Is there really a Honey Island Swamp Monster, Louisiana's Bigfoot? This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. At this point, the beast is forced to retreat as its human form begins to resurface. Remnants of history freckle the map, whether its old and potentially haunted buildings, abandoned theme parks or even museums with some very strange collections. It's got to be the Rougarou, the infamous werewolf of the bayou. Both the officer and his partner got a good look at the creature when it passed under the streetlight. If you thought voodoo was a thing of the past, think again! For those of you who haven't heard th. The boy saw the dog turn into a man, then ran home to tell his family. 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. Legend of the Rougarou, a Louisiana werewolf - Paranormal Outlaw Lover of all things comedy, photography, and travel related. Its essentially a werewolf with a cajun spin on it. Cauchemar actually means nightmare in Louisiana French and Creole. The creature was black, hairy, and walking upright on two legs. Cajun legend says that the beast hunts down Catholics who don't follow the rules of Lent. The Sinister Story Behind This Popular Louisiana Swamp Will Give You Curious Louisianaconnects readers with our newsroom's reporting. 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. The short answer is oral tradition. 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. He hides in tall grass near Grunch Road in New Orleans, LA, waiting to prey on teens who park there. The Rougarou at Cedar Point is a prime example of Rougarou supernatural popularity. Then my son started asking me about the rougarou legend and I was like a wha t? Ruston doesnt have a swamp, but if it did. 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. Once the human is cursed, it is permanent. Today, theyre suave and sexy, thanks in part to pop culture hits such as Interview with the Vampire, Twilight, and True Blood. The Most Haunted Louisiana Road: Bayou Sale Road Some versions of the myth involve witchcraft, wherein a witch has the ability to curse someone to be a Rougarou. No one agrees what it looks like because they dont really have wolves in this part of our country, says Nathan J. Rabalais, author of Folklore Figures of French and Creole Louisiana. 1983 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. This version varies from being a Bigfoot legend to resembling something more like a wendigo. He flagged me down to speak with me. The different versions of the Rougarou beast are as many as reported sightings of the beast. "I think that there's magic in the swamps that's celebrated at Rougarou," Foret says. Proud foodie. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Design a site like this with WordPress.com. This a great article!! Their friendly, but often sinister, nature makes these Cajun fairies some of the most dangerous Louisiana monsters. The monster has its own Wikipedia pageand has been the source of numerous news stories and documentaries. What is the Rougarou? | Louisiana Swamp Base They had no clue to what creature could make such a sound. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. There was thick wet swamp on both sides. However, it is unlikely you will find any real pictures of a Rougarou, if there are any, as most claims of sighting have turned out to be a hoax. It has the face of a canine with many sharp, frightening teeth. 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. Enjoy these allegedly. 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. A monster?

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