Official Blog of Pelican State Credit Union. Also known as Cajun fairies, these creatures can be either good or bad depending on the circumstances. In a 2008 Fox News special,people claimed they'd seen the beast. There has been some dispute about whether or not this myth is actually related to the French Louisiana Rougarou legends. 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. Rougarou Sightings According to a lady from Louisiana, a local child was being chased by a dog when he decided to cut it with his pocketknife. Outside of the infamous Honey Island Swamp Monster, there were not many stories that I found in my preliminary search. That is if we are to believe that these creatures are flesh and blood biological entities. 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. 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. Stories of these cajun folklore spirits originated in French culture and made their way into Louisiana folklore over time. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have successfully subscribed to the PeachTown newsletter. Well written and well documented. Louisiana has the most unique culture Ive discovered in the US and thats saying something being a native of Appalachia. The cousins were ridding toward the creature when they spotted it walking on side of the road in their direction. In fact, instead of wolfish features, most Cajuns will describe the rougarou as resembling a dog or owl. Proud foodie. It sounds like a wolf, but somethings a little off. Get more stories delivered right to your email. 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. Their property backs up to a vast cypress swamp. Thats what we in Louisiana call the Rougarou, cher. This suggests an explanation for the abundance of stories from locals about seeing a Rougarou for themselves. Outside of Louisiana, the Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio has a rollercoaster named Rougarou. People who didnt have a lot of physical or social power in society found a way to survive through being clever., Even Louisianas infamous and very real alligators have undergone a rebranding. Before we get too far into an explanation let's first say it correctly, the proper pronunciation is, "Roo-Ga-Roo.". In one version, the beast hunts down and kills anyone who doesnt follow the rules of Lent. The only way to arrive at the truth is to keep your mind open to weirdness. 61 when they saw a creature pop up out from the bank of the canal that parallels Airline. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. I grew up that way and you would hear about strange things.. The commuter stated that the headlights of his car shined directly onto the creature so they got a pretty good look at it. Enjoy these allegedly. Legends of the Rougarou. This terrifying creature has evolved over millenniabut never lost the need to feed. Generations of children have heard the scary. I remember when the physician shot himself here in Lockport. Witches?Witch doctors! 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. In some cases, they are your loved ones coming to greet you and bring good fortune. Personally, Id never hear about something terrible and say, Yep, thats definitely the work of a werewolf. 4. If your keys go missing without explanation, it could be a Lutin! 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. The brave friend stated that something in her mind told her to look ahead. 9 Scariest Louisiana Monsters from Folklore, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Rougarou, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Cauchemar, Best Resistance Bands for Home Workouts in 2021. In closing Ive always considered Yeti to be more of a possibility than a werewolf. It was eventually through the Cajun French that the name Rougarou came to be. 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. In others, they are demonic forces that play tricks and lead you to your demise in the swamps. 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. 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. The Rougarou, or as others may say, Loup garou, is a bayou-dwelling werewolf. 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. For centuries, if you didnt follow Catholic traditions, such as observing Lent, or if you hunted on holy days, the rougarou would get you. Sightings have given rise to a number of stories describing creepy things that hide in the dark and dont play nice. I'm considering creating a documentary on the legend of the Rougarou when I get some more free time in the future. "I think that there's magic in the swamps that's celebrated at Rougarou," Foret says. 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. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Heed our warning and be on the look out for cajun folklore monsters when youre roaming the wildest parts of the bayou state. The short answer is oral tradition. He might even be neighbors with the Honey Island Swamp Monster, which is also known as Louisianas bigfoot of the swamp.. 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. The different versions of the Rougarou beast are as many as reported sightings of the beast. Some months prior to this her entire family told her they hear a woman screaming at the top of her lungs, followed by a gurgling noise coming from the woods. Not in the Pacific Northwest, but right there in Laplace! The article contained a short anecdotal account of an unnamed Laplace man that in 1983 saw something correlates with what Mr. Nameless saw. Over the decades, numerous people have talked of an ape-like creature or creatures living in swamps. I suppose anything is possible, and while the Bigfoot sighting phenomena originated in the Pacific Northwest, it seems more than plausible that such a creature could exist here. The creature continued on as it reached a woody marsh area near a canal then disappeared. I had relatives that lived in Covington," Brettel said. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! We do have water spirits, such as Leviathan, a giant alligator spirit, who is actually mentioned in the Bible. Terrebonne Parish resident Jonathan Foret was a type of kids. Today, theyre suave and sexy, thanks in part to pop culture hits such as Interview with the Vampire, Twilight, and True Blood. When they were choosing the new name, one of the trademarks filed for was the name the New Orleans Rougarou. 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. Some versions of the myth involve witchcraft, wherein a witch has the ability to curse someone to be a Rougarou. The trickster figure really went from being the bad guy, the one to watch out for, to being a hero, says Rabalais, adding that the shift reflected the reality of the people who told and retold the stories. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. We cant make this stuff up. 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 had no clue to what creature could make such a sound. Its incredible that I actually witnessed one and I do believe thats the only thing it couldve been. 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. Email Joni Hess at joni.hess@theadvocate.com. These loup-garous became a fear for many people in the country, leading to them earning their place in legends passed down to children. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. A recent novel called The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. The details of just seeing the eyes suggest that this sighting happened in the early morning while it was still dark. Its popularity has seen it placed on shirts, mugs, in Hollywood and even seen roller coasters named after it. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. The article reported the murder of a man killed because his whiskey was too good and too profitable. The Rougarou is an important figure in Cajun legends. Bears can stand up and run on their hind legs, whereas, wolves cannot. Southeast Louisiana Bigfoot Sightings. Coming across this story made me reach out to Mr. Nameless to see if he would entertain the idea answering some questions about the experience he had in the early 90s. Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a Voodoo priestess. Well, the rougarou of the Bayou country has a pretty strong link to the werewolf of ancient times in Europe and France. 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. One of the most compelling reports occurred in Marrero, LA circa 1970. There's more to this 19th-century crime than the dark side of fairy lore. The jury is still out on this one, because people cant seem to figure out exactly what the Lutin isand theres good reason! For instance, instead of labourer, meaning to plow, sometimes youll hear Cajuns say rabourer. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). "Who. For the original report of this sighting visit bfro.net Report #2764, Late October, near Sorrento, Louisiana a commuter was heading home. Most Christians believe any spirit that is not a holy one is a demonic spirit. According to reports, this Louisiana monster looks human, except for his sharp teeth, goat legs, and many abnormalities. The rougarou is like our Smokey the Bear, says Foret. There were no apparent wounds or blood, but the fresh carcass looked like it had been battered and crushed. When French settlers came to Louisiana, the story came with them. Loup-garou. It is known as the most haunted road in the entire state. The cryptid, usually described as a towering, hairy monster, is allegedly a human cursed to take beastly form.