These are a few of the most common monsters that appear in the folklore of Latin Louisiana.
If you’ve any to add, please do so in form of a comment below and explain the characteristics of the monster and stories, if you’ve any.
Cauchemar|Koushmá
Cauchemar (Louisiana French) or Koushmá (Louisiana Creole) literally means nightmare in the two languages. However, in Louisiana, this nightmare is personified in form of a monster that rides the back of children that are disobedient. While the back is being ridden by the monster, Koushmá, the child cannot move at all, but can hear everything that is taking place.
In medicine, this is the period of the human sleep pattern known as Rapid Eye Movement, or REM. REM is a period when the human body is temporarily paralyzed without ability to hear affected.
This monster, Koushmá, appears in the folklore of people all over the continent of Africa, North America (The “Bogeyman” in Anglo-American tradition), and South America, and the Caribbean (“El Cuco” in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Cuba; A Cuca in Brazil).
Loup-garou|Rougarou
Is the famous man who transforms himself into a wolf – a werewolf – who prowls the swamps and bayous.
There are multiple tales linked to the Loup-Garou, as he’s known in Louisiana Francophone and Creolophone traditions, or Rougarou by Louisiana’s Amerindian traditions.
Demons & Monsters
throughout Latin America