The Bizarre Tale of the Louisiana Sackabilly
LAFAYETTE, La. (KMDL-FM) - Louisiana is full of creepy tales, lore, and cryptids.
From Lafayette to New Orleans, Houma to Shreveport, you'll find eerie tales of creatures that go bump in the night.
Obviously we all know about the Rougarou, The Honey Island Swamp Monster, and Madame Grand Doigt to name a few, there's one lesser known Louisiana legend that you may have never heard of.
Let's take a look at the Santa Claus from Hell, the Louisiana Sackabilly.
What Is A Cryptid?
A cryptid is an animal or creature that people claim exists, but hasn’t been proven to exist by science.
The word comes from cryptozoology, the study of hidden or unknown animals. Unlike confirmed, known animals, cryptids live mostly in folklore, eyewitness reports, blurry photos, and local legend.
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Think Bigfoot, The Loch Ness Monster, or the Chupacabra.
The most famous Louisiana cryptid is of course the Rougarou, and arguably the Honey Island Swamp Monster as well.
The lore surrounding these creepy figures serve as cautionary tales, keeping kids safe or warning people about dangers in the wilderness.
There is one Louisiana cryptid that I had never heard of until now, and this is the story of Louisiana's "Sackabilly".
Louisiana's Sackabilly Cryptid
Louisiana's Sackabilly is somewhat similar to the Hungarian tale of Krampus.
The Sackabilly is also commonly referred to as The Louisiana Boogeyman.
The Louisiana Sackabilly is one of those lesser-known regional cryptid tales that blends Cajun folklore and old campfire stories.
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Unlike more well known Louisiana cryptids like the Rougarou or Honey Island Swamp Monster, the Sackabilly lives in a smaller circle of oral tradition, usually told in bayou and rural communities.
The story seems to come from old boogeyman warnings Cajun parents used to keep kids from wandering at night or getting too close to the woods or the water.
Some versions of the legend say that parents throw their disappointing children into the Sackabilly's sack for him to take away...and eat.
Some say the Sackabilly legend may have been out of Depression-era tales about hobos or drifters carrying burlap sacks, mixed with Cajun superstition about spirits.
The creature is usually described as a small, wiry, goblin-like creature with long arms and scraggly hair.
The Sackabilly is said to snatch up children or drunks who stay out too late, stuffing them in its sack.
While the Sackabilly isn't a cryptid you’ll find written about in very many books, it pops up throughout Louisiana folklore and sometimes in local ghost tours or campfire storytelling.
Have you ever heard of the Louisiana Sackabilly? Let us know!
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Gallery Credit: Bruce Mikells