If you grew up in Louisiana, it’s likely you’ve heard of the rougarou. This beast of cajun folklore is often depicted as a man with a wolf or dog’s head, closely resembling a werewolf. It’s a truly magnificent monster–the pinnacle of legends–and many wonder: how did the legends begin?
Furthermore, where does a rougarou live? What are its traits and characteristics? Should I move away from Louisiana? In this article, we’re going to answer these questions and more to help you decide whether or not the legends are true and what you should do if they are.
Rougarou in cajun folklore
Origins
The rougarou (also spelled rugaru or rugaroo) has its origins in 16th century medieval French folklore. At the time, it was called the loup-garou, and many crimes were blamed on the beast. If a child disappeared or a house was ransacked, loup-garou often became the scapegoat. Belief in the monster was so strong that many civilians were accused of being the culprit, put on trial, and found guilty.
French and French Canadian settlers eventually spread the legend of the rougarou to Louisiana, and it was through the cajun French that the term loup-garou evolved into rougarou.
According to legend
Often described as half-man, half-wolf, the rougarou is essentially a French version of the werewolf. According to Louisiana legends, the monster lurks in swamps around Acadia and Greater New Orleans.
Fables based on the rougarou have been used to instill fear and obedience. Growing up, children were sometimes told if they misbehaved, the rougarou would come to take them away. It was also said that French Catholics who broke Lent for seven years in a row would be hunted down and killed by the beast.
How to become a rougarou
According to the cajun folklore, a rougarou is a human placed under a spell. Those under the the spell have the opportunity to change back to a human after 101 days, but only by transferring the curse to a willing victim. It makes you wonder who’d be up for the task.
In some accounts, the process of transferring the curse requires the helping-human to draw the blood of the rougarou. After this ritual is complete, the rougarou can return to its human form.
Other stories say the rougarou is permanently cursed, shapeshifting into its beast form at night and changing back to its human form by sunrise (similar to depictions in werewolf tales). During the day, however, the rougarou appears sickly and vulnerable.
How to protect yourself from a loup-garou
Despite its impressive speed and strength, the rougarou is not without a weakness. Legends say the beast can only be killed by fire, but still, there are other ways to deal with the cajun monster.
It’s believed you can protect yourself from the beast by placing 13 small objects on the ground near entrances you wish to safeguard. If the rougarou comes by, it will become preoccupied with counting the objects. The creature has poor math skills and can only count up to 13, so this will leave it confused, continuously recounting till the sun comes up. By dawn, its human form would begin to resurface, forcing it to retreat.
Conclusion
The rougarou is paramount in cajun legends. It can be found on t-shirts, mugs, and even in Hollywood. In October, there’s an annual festival held in downtown Houma called Rougarou Fest which pays homage to the Louisiana monster. It’s a fun festival that even includes a Rougarou Ball.
If you decide to participate, remember the tricks and tactics we’ve detailed in this guide. Otherwise, you’ll be left vulnerable to the sharp fangs and menacing claws of the rougarou, and it just may get you.
Additional Information
Rougarou stories
- Nature Walk by PeachTown
Alternate spellings
- Rugaru
- Rugaroo
- Roogaroo
- Loup-garou