Good Luck Roosters

Portuguese good luck roosters are hand-painted ceramic roosters which are the unofficial symbol of Portugal. The Rooster of Barcelos (Galo de Barcelos) is one the major symbols of the Portuguese culture and well received as house-warming gifts across Portugal and beyond offering the recipient good luck and best wishes.

There is s story surrounding the legendary rooster which tells the story of a dead rooster’s miraculous intervention in proving the innocence of a man who had been falsely accused and sentenced to death.

According to the legend, silver had been stolen from a landowner in Barcelos and a man from the neighbouring region of Galicia became suspect, despite his pleas of innocence. The Galician swore that he was merely passing through Barcelos on a pilgrimage but the authorities arrested the Galician and he was condemned to hang.

The man requested to see the judge and took him to the house of the magistrate, who at the time was holding a banquet with some friends. Affirming his innocence, the Galician pointed to a roasted rooster on top of the banquet table and exclaimed “It is as certain that I am innocent as it is certain that this rooster will crow when they hang me.” The judge pushed aside his plate of roasted rooster and ignored the Galician’s appeal.

However, while the pilgrim was being hanged, the roasted rooster stood up on the table and crowed as the Galician predicted. Understanding his error, the judge ran to the gallows, only to discover that the Galician had been saved from hanging thanks to a poorly made knot in the rope.

The man was immediately freed and sent off in peace.

Good luck roosters are all uniquely hand painted in beautiful vibrant colours and available in many sizes.