The basic tale of Rougarou is one of a half man, half wolf that prowls the Louisiana swamps, looking for Catholics that have broken Lent or broken Catholic rules in other ways. The legend of the Rougaou goes back hundreds of years, originating in France. Funding for USA.gov and content contributors is made possible from the U.S. Congress, E-Government Act of 2002. Beasts called “loup-garous,” which means werewolves in French, were … "I don't know about this guys, please turn around and go back. "Shhh, do you hear that?" Read story The Rougarou by TcChase (Tammy Chase) with 15 reads. It would be a decision they would all soon come to regret. The creature, spelled rugaru, derives from Native American/First Nation legends, though there is some dispute. The rougarou was featured in the Destination America show Monsters and Mysteries in America. The quitting employees were convinced it was the Caddo Lake version of Rougarou, half man/half gator. We hopped into my car as we cruised on over to the wetlands. : "http://www. Legend says that the Rougarou will hunt these individuals down … One example is stories were told by elders to persuade Cajun children behave.          Sexual Content The Rougarou has been haunting the swamps of Louisiana for many years. There were man-made hiking trails that ran through the area, so we decided to make a night of it. Medieval France and the Legend of the Loup-Garou. July 19, 2020 by ezekiel kincaid Leave a Comment. Enjoy a trip to the bayous, with the middle grade mystery/adventure series, Nikki Landry Swamp Legends! I just came back from a weekend at Caddo Lake State Park in Texas. What will meet them in the middle of nowhere, and who will meet their fate? It was probably first heard on television, pronounced as "Lougarog," in the 1970s TV-movie "Moon of the Wolf," starring David Janssen and Barbara Rush. Available through, "Tales From the Bayou...and other worlds" features great books from Mirror World Publishing, a well as from other. I screamed as she attempted to get to me. After that time, the curse is transferred from person to person when the rougarou draws another human’s blood. Excessive Violence Plus I love all the different names for a werewolf. Other stories range from the rougarou as a rabbit to the rougarou being derived from witchcraft. I found a spot close to our car as I heard Shelly scream in agonizing pain, then nothing. That rugaru story bears some resemblance to a Native American version of the wendigo legend related in a short story by Algernon Blackwood. Amber reluctantly agreed to get out of the car as we made our way to the wooden trails. We were all consumed by fear that none of us noticed we had split up. Over generations the stories may have morphed, but remain versions of cautionary tales. Its whole body seemed covered in fur. welcometotheblumhouse. In this the rougarou is passed down through the family, they appear as normal humans until the age of 30, the 'changing' begins as extreme hunger, they eat everything they can get their hands on. The Rougarou Fest is a festival that celebrates the folklore of the Louisiana bayous. /* 728x90, created 7/15/08 */ The Sinister Story Behind This Popular Louisiana Swamp Will Give You Chills. [2], Other stories range from the rougarou as a rabbit to the rougarou being derived from witchcraft. Am I currently sitting at home? The stories of the creature known as a rougarou are as diverse as the spelling of its name, though they are all connected to francophone cultures through a common derived belief in the loup-garou (French pronunciation: ​, ). You will also find many interesting "Tidbit" posts about my home state of Louisiana. "https://secure." It seemed to have traveled from France to anywhere French people settled. "Come on, Sara, hurry up," my best friend Melanie whispered to me as we slowly slipped out of my bedroom window. The rougarou most often is noted as a creature with a human body and the head of a wolf or dog, similar to the werewolf legend. The stories of the creature known as a rougarou are as diverse as the spelling of its name, though they are all connected to francophone cultures through a common derived belief in the loup-garou (French pronunciation: ​[lu ɡaˈʁu], /ˈluː ɡəˈruː/). I'd heard of the loup-garou (even Downunder, yep) but I didn't know the sort of resurrection story behind it. Some dispute the connection between these folktales and the francophone rugaru. //-->, This article will be permanently flagged as inappropriate and made unaccessible to everyone. Thanks for visiting my blog. It takes place on the last Saturday in October in Houma, Louisiana. [4], It's possible the Turtle Mountain Ojibwa or Chippewa in North Dakota picked up the French name for "hairy human-like being" from the influence of French Canadian trappers and missionaries with whom they had extensive dealings. One such example is stories that have been told by elders to persuade Cajun children to behave. Photo courtesy: Rougarou Fest via Facebook. google_ad_width = 728; Rougarou is also the title of an online literary journal published out of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. WHEBN0001779914 In the latter claim, only a witch can make a rougarou—either by turning into a wolf herself, or by cursing others with lycanthropy.[3]. Loup is French for wolf, and garou (from Frankish garulf, cognate with English werewolf) is a man who transforms into an animal. A common blood sucking legend says that the rougarou is under the spell for 101 days. Thanks for another great post about the south, Rita! //-->. I knew we shouldn't have, but why not? Obviously, these stories are told to persuade children to behave. What is a rougarou? A modified example, not in the original wendigo legends, is that if a person sees a rugaru, that person will be transformed into one. var scJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? Tara Stillman shouldered her black Guess purse, closed the door to her brown Pinto, and bent down to the side mirror to check her make up. The cannibalistic nature comes from the tales ofthe Windigo. Article Id: The creature, spelled rugaru, derives from Native American/First Nation legends, though there is some dispute. I wish now that I hadn't said that to her. Some stories say it will hunt down Catholics if they don't follow the rules of Lent or break it seven years in a row. I sprinted to the car, got in, and swiftly sped off to get help. Rita, you have the most amazing posts. , ten year old Nikki Landry hears a howling sound coming from a nearby swamp island and wonders if it is the dreaded rougarou her papa has warned her about. No, I am buried away, at some mental hospital, with no one believing my story. This includes his standard voodoo references, but also seems to refer explicitly to alligator hunting. The history of the Rougarou is centuries-old and has many different origins, but the earliest mention of the infamous, mythical Louisiana werewolf comes from medieval France. Loup is French for wolf, and garou (from Frankish garulf, cognate with English werewolf) is a man who transforms into an animal. Stories of ghostly apparitions, haunted plantations, and unexplained occurrences are pretty par for the course when you have a state with as much history as Louisiana. Shelly whispered as we all paused to listen. At some point there has to be a fragment of truth to these stories. The short answer is oral tradition. The Strange Angels book series by Lili St. Crow has a main character, Graves, who is a loup-garou. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. While the wendigo is feared, he notes that the rugaru is seen as sacred and in tune with Mother Earth, somewhat like bigfoot legends are today.[6]. Louisiana, French language, Acadia, Nova Scotia, Quebec, New Orleans, Texas, Mississippi, Gulf of Mexico, Shreveport, Louisiana, Bismarck, North Dakota, Fargo, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Manitoba, Spanish language, Canada, France, Italian language, English language, Blues, Louisiana, New Orleans, Merced, California, Ascension Parish, Louisiana, Odin, Warrior, Virgil, Hindu mythology, Bible, Botany, United States, Camden, New Jersey, Zoology, Video games,