This tale dates back to the 14th Century and, like all legends the details differ depending on who’s doing the telling. Here’s our version.
A pilgrim was passing through the village of Barcelos in Portugal when he was wrongly accused of theft. This was a serious charge for which a guilty verdict meant certain death. The pilgrim was brought before the town’s judge, who was about to eat a roast cockerel for dinner. Feeling vulnerable in a strange village and knowing what his sorry fate might be, the pilgrim pleaded:
No sooner had he spoken, than the cockerel got up and crowed heartily (well it is a legend!). With that, the pilgrim was pardoned and allowed to go on his way.
Ever since, the Barcelos Cockerel has been a symbol of faith, justice and good fortune..
