Nain Rouge
- Heather Clingerman
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
The concept of an afterlife is common among humanity’s many cultures. The idea or hope that there's something waiting for us after death is something that has crossed most people's minds at least once. It makes our inevitable ends feel at least a little less frightening and brings comfort during times of grief.
It's a concept that's present in many religions, with some strings attached, of course. There is an afterlife, and it is as wonderful as you'd hoped, but only if you're good and follow the rules. If you don't, it will be far less pleasant for you. Depending on what culture or religion you're looking at, the less pleasant type of afterlife can come in all sorts of forms. Cold or hot, dark or light, dry or wet, there are many options. It could even just be nothing, an eternal existence of solitude to contemplate your sins.
In popular culture here in the USA, it's typically depicted as a hot, bloody pit full of horrors beyond human comprehension. Some of those horrors are demons. These creatures are born from pure malice and malevolence whose only purpose is to lure unsuspecting humans into a life of sin.
There are many different types of demons. Such as devils, imps, and mosquitoes. Some are more intense than others. Demons can range from actively harmful to mischievous tricksters. One such trickster is the Nain Rouge.
THE NAIN ROUGE
The Nain Rouge is a small, red, humanoid creature with glowing eyes and razor-sharp teeth that originates from Detroit, Michigan. According to local legends, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, the founder of the city, was attending a party in Quebec when he was approached by a fortune teller. The fortune teller told him about a future encounter with the Nain Rouge, telling him that if he appeased the creature with flattery, he would discover a city grand enough to rival the ones in France. She also warned him, saying that if he disrespected it, he would be cursed with bad luck for the rest of his life.
Cadillac decided to ignore the warning of the strange woman. So, when he eventually crossed paths with the Nain Rouge, instead of appeasing the creature, he smacked it over the head with his cane. The trickster did nothing; it simply laughed and disappeared into the night. However, soon afterward, Cadillac's life took a turn for the worse. He was demoted by his superiors and relocated to Louisiana, a place he despised. He then returned to France, where he was imprisoned and subsequently lost his fortune.
The Nain Rouge continues to bring disaster to Cadillac to this very day by tormenting the city he founded. Witnesses claim to have seen the creature before the 1967 Detroit riots and before a major ice storm in 1976. So, in order to keep the demon out of the city, the people of Detroit hold the Marche du Nain Rouge every year on the Sunday after the Vernal Equinox. It's a parade dedicated to chasing the Nain Rouge out of the city. There are costumes, floats, and plenty of tomfoolery, all to ensure the city's safety for another year.
DEMON OR WARNING?
While most attendees are there to chase the Nain Rouge away, some locals believe the demon is just misunderstood. They claim the Nain Rouge wasn't bringing the disasters to Detroit, but instead was simply trying to warn the city's inhabitants of incoming danger.
This act of blaming disasters on mythical beings is nothing new. Humans have been doing it for almost our entire existence. When something tragic and unexplainable happens, it's easier to cope with it if you have something to blame for it. This can be seen not only in mythical creatures, but in religions too. It's quite common to hear people claiming disasters are "an act of God" or "God's wrath".
Sometimes we as a species need something to blame in order to process tragedy and grief. This has resulted in many creatures, such as the Nain Rouge, becoming scapegoats for our anger and fear. It's the entire reason monsters exist. Behind every creature, every demon, every monster are humans who were afraid of the world around them. People who rationalized their fear in the only way they could.
Written by Heather Clingerman
FAC Intern
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