Roosters are a sign of 'Good Luck' by dlytle
Perhaps the most recognizable symbol of Portugal is the rooster. They are crafted in a variety of yellow, red and black colors and found throughout Portugal. Deeply rooted in religious tradition, the rooster is the adopted motif of the Portuguese Tourist Office.The legend of the rooster originated in the town of Barcelos in northwestern Portugal. According to folklore, the inhabitants there were very perturbed by a crime of which it had not been possible to discover the author. But one day there appeared a pilgrim, on his way to Santiago do Compostela in Spain, who was suspected of having committed the crime and was arrested. The pilgrim was unable to prove himself honest and was sentenced to hang.
As an appeal, he prayed to the Virgin Mary and St. James to protect him and requested to see a judge one last time. The meeting took place in the judicial dining room where the judge was eating a roasted rooster with friends. The pilgrim once again protested his innocence, and, to the amazement of those present, pointed to the roast chicken on the table and exclaimed: "As surely as I am innocent, will that cock crow if I am hanged!" There was an outburst of laughter and comments, but in the end, nobody touched the cooked cock. But what seemed impossible actually happened.
When the pilgrim was being hanged, the cock stood up on the table and crowed. No one any longer doubted the innocence of the condemned man. The judge rushed to the gallows and was horrified to see the wretched man with the rope around his neck. But the knot was caught and thus prevented him from being strangled. He was immediately released and sent on his way in peace.
So nowadays, in most Portuguese homes, you can find roosters in various sizes as decorative pieces celebrating that heritage as well as signifying several passages in the Bible. During the Easter season, references to the rooster made in the Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John help authenticate for many Christians Christ?s presence on earth as God?s son.