Rooster of Barcelos facts for kids
The Rooster of Barcelos (called Galo de Barcelos in Portuguese) is a very famous symbol of Portugal. You can see this colorful rooster on many souvenirs and artworks across the country. It represents honesty, trust, and justice. The story behind it is an old folk tale about a miracle.
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The Rooster's Amazing Story
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The legend of the Rooster of Barcelos tells a wonderful story. It's about a roasted rooster that came back to life! This miracle helped prove that an innocent man was telling the truth. The story is connected to a special stone cross from the 1600s. This cross is now in the Archaeological Museum in Barcelos. Barcelos is a city in northwest Portugal.
A Traveler in Trouble
The story begins in Barcelos. People were looking for a thief who had stolen silver from a rich landowner. A traveler from Galicia, a region in Spain, was passing through the city. He was on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, a holy city. Even though he said he was innocent, the authorities suspected him.
The authorities arrested the man. They decided he was guilty and sentenced him to a very serious punishment. The man asked to see the judge who had made this decision. His request was granted. They took him to the judge's house, where a big dinner was happening.
The Rooster's Crow
The traveler stood before the judge. He strongly insisted he was innocent. Then, he pointed to a roasted rooster on the dinner table. He said, "It is as certain that I am innocent as that rooster will crow when they hang me!"
The judge didn't believe him. He pushed his plate aside, deciding not to eat the rooster, but he ignored the man's plea.
A Miraculous Rescue
Later, as the traveler was about to face his punishment, something amazing happened. The roasted rooster on the judge's table suddenly stood up! Then, it crowed loudly, just as the traveler had predicted.
The judge was shocked. He realized his mistake and quickly ran to the gallows. He found that the man had been saved! The knot used to hang him was poorly made, and he was still alive. The judge immediately set the innocent man free.
A Thankful Return
Years later, the traveler returned to Barcelos. He built a special stone cross to thank the Virgin Mary and Saint James. This monument is called the Calvary to the Lord of the Rooster. You can still see it today in the Barcelos Archaeological Museum.
Different Versions of the Story
The main idea of the Rooster of Barcelos tale is always the same: a dead rooster crows to prove an innocent man's truth. But there are a few different ways the story is told:
- Sometimes, the traveler is a guest at the landowner's dinner when the silver is stolen.
- In other versions, the traveler stays at an inn, and the inn owner falsely accuses him.
- Some stories say there were two travelers, a father and son. The son is accused, and the father asks the rooster to crow.
- In some tales, the rooster crows right after the man makes his prediction. This means the man is never taken to the gallows at all.
- The accused person is not always from Galicia in every version.
- A similar miracle story is told in La Rioja, Spain. It is linked to Saint Dominic de la Calzada.
See also
In Spanish: Leyenda del Gallo de Barcelos para niños
- Symbols of Portugal
- Gallic rooster
