Beware of Louisiana’s Rougarou! Have you heard of the creepy, Cajun swamp legend?
\"Shan
By Shan Bailey
NOLA Weekend
Creepy swamp tales surrounding one Cajun creature have spooked some families living along the bayous for generations. Legend says the Rougarou prowls Louisiana swamps to hunt down Catholics who don’t observe Lent and children who don’t behave.
The Rougarou lurks in Louisiana swamps and bayous. Photo courtesy: Unsplash
What is the Rougarou?
The Rougarou is a beastly, werewolf or dog-like creature existing in the rich Cajun folklore along the swamps and bayous of Southeast Louisiana.
Jonathan Foret, executive director of South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center, says the traditional French pronunciation referring to the swamp monster is “loup-garou,” the French word for werewolf.
“Over the years in Southern Louisiana, it kind of morphed into Rougarou, which is also a correct pronunciation for it nowadays,” Foret said.
Foret said he grew up with parents passing down the legend. Now, as an adult, he’s learned even more about the creature while producing the Rougarou Fest that occurs annually in Houma, La. on the last weekend of October.
What’s the legend of the Rougarou?
The most popular legend surrounding the Rougarou serves to warn Catholics who backslide on observing Lent, a time of fasting and abstaining in Catholicism and other Christian religions. Foret says this lines up with the predominately Catholic religion in the area.
“One of the ways that you could become a Rougarou is if you did not observe Lent for seven years in a row,” Foret said.
Another version of the legend was used to make kids behave.
Parents would commonly tell their children, “You better behave or the Rougarou is going to get you,” Foret said.
Renditions of this spooky legend most likely spread from French and French Canadian settlers who eventually made their way into Cajun Louisiana. Over generations the stories may have morphed, but remain versions of cautionary tales.
“Around here the stories are centered around a man in the shape of a dog, or half-man, half-dog,” Foret said.
he most popular legend surrounding the Rougarou serves to warn Catholics who backslide on observing Lent, a time of fasting and abstaining in Catholicism and other Christian religions. Foret says this lines up with the predominately Catholic religion in the area.
“One of the ways that you could become a Rougarou is if you did not observe Lent for seven years in a row,” Foret said.
Another version of the legend was used to make kids behave.
Parents would commonly tell their children, “You better behave or the Rougarou is going to get you,” Foret said.
Renditions of this spooky legend most likely spread from French and French Canadian settlers who eventually made their way into Cajun Louisiana. Over generations the stories may have morphed, but remain versions of cautionary tales.
“Around here the stories are centered around a man in the shape of a dog, or half-man, half-dog,” Foret said.
Photo courtesy: Rougarou Fest via Facebook
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