We are in the last half of the A-Z Blog and I’m getting my second wind. Since I write about this kind of stuff all the time, it isn’t unusual to find similar posts. Be sure to click the link at the end of this short post to read more about werewolves.
Rougarou is the Louisianan or Cajun French version of Loup garou, a French term for werewolf. The story is the same except that the rougarou prowls the swamps and forests of the deep South around New Orleans. It has a human body and the head of a wolf or dog. Parents tell their children stories of the rougarou to keep the kids out of the woods. One version of the story has the rougarou hunting down Catholics who don’t follow the rules of Lent. One way, by this account, of turning into a rougarou is to skip Lent for seven years in a row.
Another legend says that the person afflicted will be under the spell for 101 days. The rougarou can then get rid of the curse by drawing blood from another victim who will then suffer for another 101 days as the rougarou.
And of course, a witch can turn you into a rougarou just for fun. For more about werewolves and skinwalkers (and how to get rid of one), check out this post I wrote last winter– Winter Werewolves and Worse.
Tomorrow–Sluagh, Celtic spirits of the restless dead
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Scary picture! And I like werewolves! But not when they’re after me, I guess. Love the word Rougarou – sounds romantic, but with teeth!
home stretch of a to z!
The Really Real Housewives
Thanks, Tara. The Cajuns always put a neat but terrifying twist on old legends. Thanks for stopping by.
New Orleans is full of stories, I really hope I can visit it one day ?
I’m trying to think where I’d heard Rougarou before, it must’ve been in one of the supernatural TV series I so love ?
Andrea from The Script Bible
Volunteer in Damyanti’s D Company #atozchallenge
I watch those TV shows too–I’m a sucker for ghost hunts, ancient legends. Do you wind up watching them all alone at night and then find yourself turning on all the lights and locking the doors? Thanks for stopping by.
Eeeek… They sound pretty creepy. But better a temporary curse than a permanent one (like the traditional werewolf’s), right? Even if blood must be drawn… 😉
Happy A2Z day off tomorrow! And kudos on keeping up with the challenge… Just one more week. One more. We can do this!!
Guilie @ Life In Dogs (and member of co-host Damyanti’s team, D’s Company )
Thanks for stopping by! This challenge has been hard for some reason! Congratulations to you, too, for making it this far—-and beyond.
Hmmm … by all accounts I’m probably going to end up a werewolf then – well except I’m not RC I’m Anglican – can it get Anglican’s too? 😉
Tasha
Tasha’s Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
I think the rougaroo is an equal opportunity monster so Anglicans are on the menu.