Why is the rooster important to the portuguese culture?

Answer 1

Based upon a story from medieval times of a merchant traveling/staying at an inn along his way to market. A woman working at the inn, for a reason I don't remember, hides silver in the merchant's bag & accuses him of stealing from the inn. He is arrested & proves his innocence during his trial. He does this by saying that if he is innocent his rooster will stand up and crow, which his rooster does & saves him.

This is how the story was related to me two weeks ago on tour in Portugal, however from a website, "Nancy's Portugal' I found the following:

The Rooster from Barcelos

The Rooster from Barcelos has become a national symbol. It symbolises "The winning of justice when you fight for it". The legend is many hundred years old and goes, as I know it, like this:

A young man was sentenced to be hanged for a crime he didn't commit. In this case, there was not enough doubt to do the accused any good.

Vainly, he swore his innocence. In desperation, he fell on his knees and prayed to his two favourite saints, the Virgin Mary and St. John. Thereafter, he made his last wish to meet his judge one more time. As customary, this wish was granted.

The judge received the young man in his own home and even served him a fried rooster. Once again, the man swore he did not commit this crime, and, probably inspired by his two favourite saints, he suddenly lifted his right hand's two swear fingers and exclaimed: "Honourable judge, by the Virgin Mary and the Holy John, I once again swear that I am innocent. If I lie, the rooster on that tray will stay where it is, but if I am telling the truth, it will rise and crow".

In the same instant, the rooster was in its earlier feathers, standing up and crowing so it was heard all over Barcelos. The young man was immediately released

Answer 2

The rooster symbolizes both masculinity and a willingness to fight for good and against evil. It is central to Portuguese masculine culture.