By clicking "Accept," you agree to the use of cookies on Pelican State of Mind. The Caribbean island nation of Haiti, already steeped in the dark lore of zombies and voodoo magic, also has its own version of the infamous werewolf, which they call the je-rouges, or "red eyes." It is also referred to it as the French loup-garou and by the Creole word lougarou. The legend of the Rougaou goes back hundreds of years, originating in France. 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. The short answer is oral tradition. Loup-garou. Back in the 16th century, theyd regularly blame various crimes on loup-garous. This beast first sighted in 1963 is reminiscent of the popular DC character known as Swamp Thing. Definitely a loup-garou. One of the most popular stories that gets passed down from generation to generation is the legend of the Rougarou, Cajun Country's answer to Bigfoot. After being spotted, the creature ran between two houses then continued to the street when it passed under a streetlight. There was thick wet swamp on both sides. These canine-humanoid shapeshifters travel between worlds using magical doors. 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. The unfortunate person is under the spell for 101 days. The different versions of the Rougarou beast are as many as reported sightings of the beast. My Encounter With a Rougarou "aka Louisiana Werewolf". I spent a couple summers in Sabine Parish out on North Fort Fort Polk on a tract of ground called Peason Ridge(Little Nam). The neighbor then said he saw an 8 foot tall creature standing on two legs. The boy saw the dog turn into a man, then ran home to tell his family. 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. Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. Love Louisiana? 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. 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). Even today he refuses to let anyone see it.". Its true! Lover of all things comedy, photography, and travel related. They had no clue to what creature could make such a sound. The friend described a chilling encounter one warm morning. Full report can be found at http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. "I heard the story from veteran hunters. Jerry Major's Curious Louisiana question is more than an inquiry about a pronunciation. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. Its essentially a werewolf with a cajun spin on it. The only way to arrive at the truth is to keep your mind open to weirdness. Once the human is cursed, it is permanent. I dont remember verbatim what he told me that day but the gist of that conversation has stuck in my psyche with clarity for nearly 30 years. Many rumors haunt this road, also known as LA-57. Feel free to email me at jsutherlin@onlyinyourstate.com. Numerous ghost sightings have been reported over the years, making it one of the most haunted landmarks in the USA. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. However, due to its incredibly poor math skills, the beast can only count to 12. The Same LObservateur article that mentioned the Laplace mans sighting near Ruddock in 1983, also makes mention of another Laplace man that had a strange encounter on top of the levee near Bayou Steel. He told me it made no since for someone to be crossing the road at that point. Well written and well documented. You interact with them, theyre dancing and theyre nice. 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. 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. Past participants have described the festival as fun, and until COVID it had managed to attract a decent crowd each year. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have successfully subscribed to the PeachTown newsletter. Aside from snakes and alligators, there are lots of predators and other scary things living there. These stories were used to keep children in line and out of the woods. Children can see and hear everything that happens, but they are unable to move. 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. Was there really a monster in the swamps? HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Theres a lot of blue tarps still on roofs everywhere, says Foret. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Design a site like this with WordPress.com. French and Canadian settlers as they migrated brought with them the legend of the beast to Louisiana. They appear as fluorescent balls of light which loom over the marshlands of Louisiana. mystery of Marie Laveau, Louisianas Voodoo Queen, Jacques St. Germain, The Infamous Louisiana Vampire, Jean Lafitte: Mystery of the Unfound Treasure, History of the Louisiana Snowball and Its Flavors. Like other "monsters" Loch Ness, Bigfoot the Honey Island Swamp Monster has developed an enduring legend. He has the body of a man, head of a werewolf, and sharp teeth that can seamlessly tear through flesh. 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. A 1981 report bywriter Jerry Breaux pulled from The Advocate archives recalls a conversation the writer had with his long-time friend, Hubert. Their body would then undergo a transformation, and they would develop a craving for meat. We cant make this stuff up. USA Today ranked the Rougarou Fest as one of the top 10 costume parties in the country, and you can join in the fun and compete in the contest. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. No purchase necessary. It was late in the evening when Mr. Nameless flagged me down. "I think that there's magic in the swamps that's celebrated at Rougarou," Foret says. Legend says a group of albino dwarves isolated themselves from society in the woods just outside of New Orleans. The sounds grew faint as the creature traveled deeper into the woods until they faded completely. The Bible tells us to test the spirit(s) to see if it (they) come from God. The giant was walking westerly at a quick pace with a sorrowful but purposeful look. Curious Louisianaconnects readers with our newsroom's reporting. In the late summer of the early 90's (actual year up for debate), I was riding my bike. The Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has an exhibit dedicated to the Rougarou, which includes a statue of the creature itself. 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 officers came around the corner of the house and saw a creature standing up, pressed against the side of the house, trying to maintain cover. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Where can you find a Rougarou? See. There were no apparent wounds or blood, but the fresh carcass looked like it had been battered and crushed. 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. At the annual October events rougarou costume contest, the fests mascot is reimagined hundreds of different ways, including as an eco-activist. All the cliches are therethey come out at night mostly. 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. About half way back to the railroad crossing, 100 yards up the road. For more information, visit the Rougarou Fest website, and don't forget to give them a follow on Facebook so you don't miss out on any announcements. Enjoy these allegedly. It had a face like a man and the body of an animal, said Herman Broom. 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 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. Mr. Nameless admitted that he did not want to slow down to get a good look. Perhaps this giant was not a fan of small talk, and from the direction of travel I suspect the giant was heading home to Chackbay. The French Catholics claimed that you would be turned into a loup-garou if you did not follow the rules of Lent for seven consecutive years. The two young women decided they would go to the car together. About four weeks ago, PB and his 5-year-old daughter were walking along their long dirt driveway that leads to their home. Its rumored that Lutins can take any form, including cats (especially white ones), hobgoblins, elves, and other strange creatures. This terrifying creature has evolved over millenniabut never lost the need to feed. 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. That gator is looking pretty good right now, huh? It's okay, because we're here to bust them! Once the girl was halfway to the vehicle she noticed her friend was still standing at the front door of the house. It will begin to recount the pennies, continuously perplexed as it encounters the number 13, until sunrise. The story of the Letieche is Louisianas Jungle Book. Local sanitation workers have supposedly reported seeing them raiding garbage cans or chasing trucks. According to the woman, "The next day a prominent physician appeared in town with his right arm cut and in a sling. So this happened to me a few years ago, I was visiting a friend's house in the Houston River area, that section of the river is pretty swampy so we were frog hunting at night. That is if we are to believe that these creatures are flesh and blood biological entities. Kliebert tried to communicate with the giant, asking who are you? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Frogs croak their songs in the distance and mosquitos buzz as they fly around looking for their next meal. Recently I saw a picture of a bear with severe mange which looked like how people describe werewolves and rougarous.