A Portuguese icon.
The Barcelos Rooster is considered to be the unofficial symbol of Portugal. You can find this emblem in many forms in every local shop and especially gift shops. This national symbol is mostly found in its typical ceramic form.
The Rooster of Barcelos is always vividly colored, and is said to be the embodiment of the famous Portuguese love of life.
Legend goes: At a banquet given by a rich landowner in Barcelos the silver was stolen and one guest was accused of the theft. He was tried by the court and was found guilty. In spite of the overwhelming evidence against him he still protested his innocence. The magistrate granted the man a final chance to prove his case. Seeing a roasted rooster in a nearby basket he said: “It is as certain that I am innocent as it is certain that this rooster will crow when they hang me.” As the man was about to be hanged, the roasted rooster stood up on the table and crowed as the man predicted. The man was freed and sent off in peace.
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