Have you ever heard of the Rougarou? This special character in Cajun folklore got his name from a version of the French word for "werewolf," loupgarou. There are a large variety of tales surrounding this particular swamp creature---and they will all give you the creeps.

1. Legend of the Rougarou

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. Legend says that the Rougarou will hunt these individuals down and suck their blood, feeding on their energy for up to 101 days.

This is why the Rougarou is a popular costume during the Courir de Mardi Gras, as seen here.

That way, everyone is reminded of what may happen if you don't keep your promises during the Lenten season, which begins the day after Mardi Gras.

2. The Married Couple and the Rougarou

Another spooky tale of the Rougarou involves a married couple. The wife wandered into the woods and locked eyes with the Rougarou. This way, his spell was broken, making him able to turn back into human form. She knew that if she told her husband what happened, she may remain under the Rougarou's spell forever, so she was forced to keep her secret for 101 days. After that point, her spell was lifted.

3. The Blood Seeking Beast

In this version of the story, once a human has turned into a Rougarou, they will roam the streets on the night of the full moon, focusing on small towns. They will wreak havoc throughout the town until someone shoots or stabs the creature.

Why? Because once the first drop of blood falls, the beast will turn back into a man.

Usually, the Rougarou/man already knows who his killer is. As the dying man takes his last breath, he has to remind his killer not to mention the incident to anyone--or else they will end up with the same fate, turned into the Rougarou.

4. The Rougarou and the Boy

In this version of the tale, a large white dog followed a young boy home, annoying him throughout the walk. The dog was urging the boy to attack, and eventually the boy pulled a knife out and slashed the dog open.

This was a mistake, however--because this was not a dog, but the Rougarou.

The Rougarou turned back into a man, telling the boy that he had sold his soul to the devil and ended up a beast. Again, he urged the boy to stay silent about their encounter, but the boy wasn't able to keep the secret. Eventually he began disappearing at night--eventually turning fully into the Rougarou, never to be seen in the same form again.

If you love all things Rougarou and want to celebrate the swamp, you should consider attending the upcoming Rougarou Fest.

This unique festival is a great way to celebrate the folklore of the Southern Louisiana swamps, as well as celebrate the unique environmental heritage there.

What tales of the Rougarou did you grow up with? Do you have a favorite? Let us know! We love to hear your feedback.