Rougarou

The Rougarou (pronounced /ruɡəruː/), also spelled roux-ga-roux, rugaroo, or rugaru, is a legendary creature rooted in the folklore of the Cajun diaspora. It also appears as a trickster figure in the oral traditions of Métis and other Francophone communities, all tied to older European werewolf beliefs.

Accounts of the rougarou vary as widely as the spellings of its name, but they all stem from the French legend of the loup-garou. In French, loup means wolf, while garou refers to a person who transforms into an animal. The word itself traces back to Frankish origins, similar to the English term werewolf. "Rougarou" is essentially a regional variation in pronunciation and spelling of loup-garou.

According to Barry Jean Ancelet, a folklorist and professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the rougarou is a common figure in the legends of French Louisiana. In southern Louisiana, both rougarou and loup-garou are often used interchangeably.

The legend likely arrived in Louisiana either directly with French settlers or through French Canadian immigrants during earlier waves of migration. In Cajun and Creole traditions, the rougarou is said to stalk the swamps of Acadiana and Greater New Orleans, as well as the region’s cane fields and forests. It is most often described as having a human body with the head of a wolf or dog, closely resembling the classic werewolf.

Stories of the rougarou are frequently used to instill fear or encourage obedience, especially among children. In some versions, the creature hunts down Catholics who fail to observe Lent properly. This idea aligns with older French Catholic folklore, which claims that breaking Lent for seven consecutive years can turn someone into a werewolf.

One popular tale says that the rougarou suffers under a curse for 101 days. During this period, it must feed on blood, and the curse is passed on when it draws blood from another person. On the final day, it temporarily becomes human again but appears ill and remains silent about the curse, fearing death if exposed.

Various protective superstitions surround the creature. One belief holds that placing 13 small objects near your door can keep the rougarou away, as it supposedly cannot count beyond 12 and becomes stuck trying.

Other stories portray the rougarou in different forms, from a rabbit to a creature born of witchcraft. In some versions, only a witch can create a rougarou—either by transforming herself into a wolf or by placing a lycanthropic curse on someone else.