Mike and I went to Portugal over Easter, specifically Estoril, Cascais, and Lisbon. All over Portugal you find these colorful roosters. They are on everything from artwork
to towels
to your basic tourist collectibles.
Now, it all started when Mike posted a picture of one of the rooster figurines from the room decor where we were staying on facebook. Someone asked what it was, and he replied 'The rooster of Love'. Now , to get the proper feel, you must channel your inner Antonio Banderas as the Puss in Boots, properly rolling or inflecting your R's, so that it becomes 'The rroost-er....of Love'.
And the name stuck. After all, look at this creation. It has hearts all over it. It's colorful. It's from one of the Romance countries. What else could you call it?
However, the legend isn't quite as romantic. El galo de Barcelos is the tale of a traveler wrongly accused of thievery. He was sentenced to be hanged, and when brought before the judge who was having guests at his house for a banquet, pointed to the dead rooster on the banquet table and swore that he was innocent and that this dead rooster would rise from the platter crowing his innocence as he was being hanged. The judge lost his appetite for bird and pushed it off to the side. The prisoner was taken to the gallows, and as he was being hanged, the rooster rose from the platter and began crowing. The judge ran to the gallows, hoping to not be too late to save the traveler, discovering to his relief that the rope used was old and snapped immediately from the weight and the traveler's life was spared and he was released.
So, while he may be a symbol of good fortune, honesty, and happiness to me he will be...the Rooster of Love...
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