The legend is over 500 years-old but it’s still meaningful . And it’s at the origin of one of the most popular emblems of Portuguese identity: the Cockerel of Barcelos. In addition to being one of the most iconic pieces of Portuguese traditional crafts, the famous rooster was used, from 1935 onwards, as a symbol of national tourism, until it became an almost universal icon of Portugal. Who hasn’t seen this black rooster (red crest, spotted with hearts) before? But being familiar with an icon doesn’t necessarily mean we know the story behind it…

Legend has it that many years ago, in the small town of Barcelos, a crime was committed whose author was unknown. The population was scared, looking for the criminal, until one day a stranger arrived from Galicia. He was immediately accused.

The man defended himself as best as he could, claiming his innocence. He was just a pilgrim on his way to Santiago de Compostela, he said. No one listened to him, so he was finally arrested and sentenced to death.

As his last wish, the man asked to be taken to the local judge for his last allegations. At the judge’s house, everyone was delighting in a great banquet. The man once again pleaded not guilty, but again everyone ignored him. It was then that the man noticed a rooster, shining like gold on the table, and said: “As surely as I am innocent will that Cockerel crow if I am hanged.”

The judge and his guests laughed, but, to be on the safe side, they did not eat the rooster. And the man was sentenced to death. Legend has it that when it finally came to hang him, the cockerel stood up on the table and crowed, saving the Galician in extremis! The judge ordered him released, and he went on his way. But he never forgot the miraculous rooster. Years later, the man returned to Barcelos and had a monument erected in praise of the Virgin and St. James. From medieval legend to national icon, the Cockerel of Barcelos never ceases to amaze, and has inspired craftsmen and designers throughout the years. With the original piece as reference, with its vivid colors in sharp contrast with the black background, several reinventions of this legendary object appear.

In our stores, we have gathered a selection of Cockerel of Barcelos that expresses all the richness and creativity of our handcrafts, from the most traditional examples, to the most contemporary roosters, often single-colored, but with an equally strong personality and their powerful crow!

Discover our selection of handcrafts.