rougarou sightings in louisiana

Like other "monsters" Loch Ness, Bigfoot the Honey Island Swamp Monster has developed an enduring legend. The brave friend dismissed what she saw for a moment and continued to search for the purse in the dark. One of the most popular stories that gets passed down from generation to generation is the legend of the Rougarou, Cajun Countrys answer to Bigfoot. This particular evening something strange caught the seminary students ear. Curious Louisiana answers. Recently I saw a picture of a bear with severe mange which looked like how people describe werewolves and rougarous. Not in the Pacific Northwest, but right there in Laplace! 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. Im not making this up. 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. . Your email address will not be published. Bog Monster of Louisiana T-Shirt (Impractical Jokers). Another well-known swamp monster born out of Cajun folklore is the Rougarou. It's got to be the Rougarou, the infamous werewolf of the bayou. 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." 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 . 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. He sees it as an example of the way cryptids evolve alongside the cultures that created them. Is there really a Honey Island Swamp Monster, Louisiana's Bigfoot? We do have water spirits, such as Leviathan, a giant alligator spirit, who is actually mentioned in the Bible. The court would ask the public if they believed the accused to be a loup-garou, and usually the public agreed (mainly for fear that theyd be outed as a witch or a loup-garou themselves). For instance, there is a legend that says placing 13 pennies at entrances you wish to protect is the way to go. Back in the 16th century, theyd regularly blame various crimes on loup-garous. 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. "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. Outside of Louisiana, the Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio has a rollercoaster named Rougarou. 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. Ready for the creatures that will haunt you in your sleep? We may never really find out.. No, you dont become a Rougarou from a bite or scratch, or from losing a bet. By clicking "Accept," you agree to the use of cookies on Pelican State of Mind. You can reach the Curious Louisiana team at CuriousLouisiana@theadvocate.com. In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. 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 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. The article does not specify if this happened in the same area that he and his friend found the large footprints. After being spotted, the creature ran between two houses then continued to the street when it passed under a streetlight. While most likely these stories are cautionary tales meant to keep kids from wandering into dangerous situations, it does make you think! This terrifying creature has evolved over millenniabut never lost the need to feed. The man heard a noise behind him; he turned around and witnessed two large, red eyes staring back at him. The student claimed it was the exact same sounds they heard during their encounter. There were no apparent wounds or blood, but the fresh carcass looked like it had been battered and crushed. Loup is French for Wolf, and Garou refers to a man that transforms into an animal. These stories were used to keep children in line and out of the woods. 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. Foret grew up in southern Louisiana, between the Atchafalaya Basin and New Orleans, where stories of the rougarou are most often heardand he wouldnt venture into wooded areas at night because of them. The source of storms and an (occasional) kidnapper, the massive ancient beast has inspired muscle cars and jet fighters. Heed our warning and be on the look out for cajun folklore monsters when youre roaming the wildest parts of the bayou state. A lover of tasty meat, he lurks in swamps and hunts down unsuspecting humans. Let us know in the comments below! People claim he leaves behind webbed footprints (presumably to navigate the swamps effectively) and mutilates wild boars. A recent novel called The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. We all have a notion that this world is a lot stranger than it seems on a surface level. But you should 100% be on the lookout for alligators if you find yourself in the swamps at night. In the article, we will attempt to answer these questions and more. The three adult men surveyed the area from the inside of the truck. What he told me next has stuck in my memory, and was the spark that lit the flame regarding personal interest I took in all things weird, and strange. 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. The unfortunate person is under the spell for 101 days. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Also in Harvey, residents say they've seen it knocking over trashcans and chasing cats. Kliebert was stunned when he saw this giant approaching him. The Rougarou will see the 13 objects, try to count them, and be unable to count them all. Case closed. This was one interesting problem that they had to deal with centuries ago. 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. Be careful, because Louisiana monsters are all over! 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. 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. 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 . This version varies from being a Bigfoot legend to resembling something more like a wendigo. There's more to this 19th-century crime than the dark side of fairy lore. In Assumption Parish it is common place for house to be built substantially off the ground to withstand inevitable flood waters. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have successfully subscribed to the PeachTown newsletter. 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. Over the years there have been many different stories about this mythical creature in Louisiana, a common occurrence with oral traditions like this one. However, due to its incredibly poor math skills, the beast can only count to 12. According to folklore, a Rougarou is a human that has been placed under a spell. "I think that there's magic in the swamps that's celebrated at Rougarou," Foret says. Address: Rougarou Fest, 7910 W Park Ave, Houma, LA 70364, USA. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Bears can stand up and run on their hind legs, whereas, wolves cannot. The two young women decided they would go to the car together. A 1981 report bywriter Jerry Breaux pulled from The Advocate archives recalls a conversation the writer had with his long-time friend, Hubert. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You can find information on the legend of Cauchemar in folklore from all around the world, and it even exists in the Deep South. we have similar creatures in northeastern NY along with a few other cryptids like pig men and Bigfoot but i also have seen a panther like cat with black bat like wings by the tree line in a small town along lake Champlain. And then I realized that is what I saw! When the first drop of blood is drawn, the creature returns to human form and tells the attacker who it really is. This a great article!! In 1974, Ford, a wildlife photographer and former air traffic controller, claimed to have witnessed the creature while exploring potential hunting grounds. What he described to me, in my mind was a Bigfoot sighing. 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 Giants body appeared to be covered with reddish hair. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. Sam and Dean had a struggle with this one. 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. Immense fear or indifference could be contributed to psychic phenomena that are sometimes reported with these types of sightings. Long, thin arm attached to a 6 to 7 foot frame. The legend is believed to have originated from French Canadian immigrants in the late 1700's. There are hundreds of light . The cousins decided to turn around and go back the direction they came to avoid a close encounter with this unknown, imposing, bipedal creature. It was enough just enough working knowledge for me to form an opinion. Cajun legend says that the beast hunts down Catholics who don't follow the rules of Lent. Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. Out hunting for deer, Hubert was perched atop an oak tree when he heard heavy sounds approaching from the woods behind him. Years later the seminary student was watching a television program about Bigfoot and they played audio of a suspected Sasquatch. French and Canadian settlers as they migrated brought with them the legend of the beast to Louisiana. Apparently that was a thing they did back then. Generations of youngsters have heard the scary tales. 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. 9 Scariest Louisiana Monsters from Folklore, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Rougarou, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Cauchemar, Best Resistance Bands for Home Workouts in 2021. 9 REAL Sightings of the Rougarou | Darkness Prevails Darkness Prevails 631K subscribers Subscribe 4.7K 136K views 3 years ago It's like a real life werewolf, but worse. The bright lights of the stars flicker in the murky licks of the waves near the towering, ominous Cypress trees. The rougarou is like our Smokey the Bear, says Foret. The villagers would capture people they believed to be a loup-garou and then hold a public trial. And above all else, remember thisdont go into the swamps alone! For Foret and many other Cajun residents in the area, the real possibility that climate change will eventually force them from their homes is particularly upsetting. The hybrid whimpering could still be heard, and was clear and near, but still no visible sign of what was producing these sounds. That's how I knew it wasnt a bear, another witness reported. Honey Island Swamp Monster The commuter stated that the headlights of his car shined directly onto the creature so they got a pretty good look at it. This continued for 15 minutes until the sound started to travel away. Then my son started asking me about the rougarou legend and I was like a wha t? Lover of all things comedy, photography, and travel related. by Joel Balsam October 19, 2022. 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. 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 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. If you have lived in Louisiana, there is a significant chance you have heard the lore of the Rougarou (also spelled as Rouxgaroux). There are documentaries about this you can easily find on YouTube. The Legends Of The Rougarou In Louisiana May Send Chills Down Your Spine Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. Like the childhood game of telephone, the story morphs over the years as it gets passed down from generation to generation. Its a hybrid mixture of escaped circus chimpanzees and alligators which now live in the swamps of St. Tammany Parish. By the end, youll know the scariest rumors circulating in cajun land. The officer reported that the creature crossed a 22 foot wide street in three strides. The few folks that lay eyes on these creatures are simply catching an interloper just visiting. No matter how you spell it, the Rougarou, Roux-Ga-Roux, Rugaroo, Rugaru, or Loup Garou is a werewolf type creature living in the folklore of Cajun French Louisiana. However, many people also believe it's just a dog. For instance, instead of labourer, meaning to plow, sometimes youll hear Cajuns say rabourer. An estimated 15,000 people now attend Rougarou Festival, which still manages to provide a very genuine peek into a culture and a land unlike any other in the world. Apparently, when a person changes into a Rougarou they forget how to count past 12 (probably since they only worry about midnight and the moon at this point). 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. Subscribe to the Pelican State of Mind blog by providing your email below! Thank you! According to reports, this Louisiana monster looks human, except for his sharp teeth, goat legs, and many abnormalities. It was still very much daylight when this happened but the only detail he could make out was that the creature was upright and a bipedal hominid, dark in color. Mr. Nameless wasnt sure what he saw, but I was convinced. He might even be neighbors with the Honey Island Swamp Monster, which is also known as Louisianas bigfoot of the swamp.. It's okay, because we're here to bust them! The plantation's most popular (and yet to be debunked) encounter is the apparition of a young . 1990-1992 (early 90s) St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. She finally located the purse she grabbed it and quickly ran inside the house. 1983 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. Despite being a monster of legends, just like its cousin the werewolf, the Rougarou has its weakness. Louisiana has a Nightmare on Bourbon Street situation going on that some arent aware of. In some cases, they are your loved ones coming to greet you and bring good fortune. The Rougarou life involves shapeshifting into its beast form every night, then being forced to transform back into a human at sunrise. 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. It stands upright on two legs, and is covered in hair. She describes the Rougarou as "an important identification marker for South Louisiana's culture." Both the officer and his partner got a good look at the creature when it passed under the streetlight. 2023 Atlas Obscura. One recent supposed sighting came from a woman in Harvey, Louisiana, who claimed she saw a Grunch eating one of her neighbor's dogs. Why do Bud's Broiler's burger prices conflict? Once the girl was halfway to the vehicle she noticed her friend was still standing at the front door of the house. A monster? He hides in tall grass near Grunch Road in New Orleans, LA, waiting to prey on teens who park there. 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. At first he thought it was a bear that was under the house causing a commotion, but as he approached the creature stood up and ran off into the swamp. 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. As outlandish as that sounds some of the very details in this essay support that. Louisiana native. Its fingernails are grisly claws. The seminary student stood still, they got the impression that the source of the noise was moving along a path in the woods and getting closer. Their full transformation into their Rougarou form would be completed once they had their first bite of human flesh. How safe are you from this magnificent monster? Children can see and hear everything that happens, but they are unable to move. 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.. Proud foodie. The tale of Rougarou originates from Southern Louisiana, and is often told to young children to prevent them from misbehaving. 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. When they got to the spot they noticed the earth and surrounding plant life was disturbed like something big frequently passed there, a game trail of sorts. Such monster makeovers are common. The only credibility I can give to these reports is that they ran in the paper. Personally, Id never hear about something terrible and say, Yep, thats definitely the work of a werewolf. http://www.gcbro.com/LAassumption03-12-2016.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. Did a child disappear from the village without a trace? Driving west on Airline Hwy. It ended up passing within 15 yards of Mr. Klibert. It was a full moon so it made spotting the Bullfrogs easier "super tasty btw", anyway we're wondering down by the .

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