Ruth
Recently, we visited Portugal and saw many varieties of roosters on display in souvenir shops. Then our tour guide told us a legend, explaining why roosters are considered a lucky symbol in the country.
The symbol of the rooster is woven into the fabric of many cultures, but few stories are as poignant as its appearances in the Gospel books of the Bible and the legends of Portugal. In both narratives, the rooster embodies themes of faith and redemption, inviting us to ponder the deeper meanings embedded in them.
In the Gospels of the New Testament, the rooster’s crow is associated with one of the most emotional moments in the Passion narrative—Peter’s denial of the Lord. Jesus predicted that Peter, one of His most devoted disciples, would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed. This prophecy is recounted in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, highlighting its significance.
Peter initially vowed he would never deny the Lord. Yet, as the events unfolded, fear overtook him. Confronted by bystanders who recognized him as a follower of Jesus, Peter denied knowing the Lord three times. Then the rooster crowed. Peter remembered the Lord’s prophecy and was struck by the painful truth of his actions. He wept bitterly, a testament to human frailty and the struggles of maintaining faith under duress.
The rooster’s crow marked a moment of self-awareness for Peter, who later became a pillar of the early Church and gave up his life as a follower of Jesus Christ.
Across the seas in Barcelos, Portugal, another legendary tale involving a rooster captivates our imagination. This folktale tells the story of a traveling pilgrim falsely accused of theft in the town of Barcelos. Despite his protestations of innocence, he was sentenced to hang. In a desperate plea for justice, the pilgrim requested an audience with the judge, who was dining with friends.
To prove his innocence, the pilgrim pointed to a cooked rooster on the dining table and proclaimed that it would crow as a sign of his truth. The judge didn’t believe him and dismissed his appeal—until, miraculously, the rooster crowed. Shocked by this divine intervention, the judge realized the man’s innocence and spared his life, preventing a grave miscarriage of justice.
The rooster in this legend symbolizes divine truth and protection for the innocent. It serves as a reminder of the power of faith and the belief that justice, although sometimes delayed, will prevail. The Rooster of Barcelos has since become a cultural icon of Portugal, representing honesty, integrity, and trust.
Though separated by geography and context, the stories of the rooster in the Gospels and the Rooster of Barcelos reveal shared themes underlying human existence. Both accounts present the rooster as a harbinger of important moral truths and personal transformation. Whether waking Peter to his failings or crowing for the pilgrim’s vindication, the rooster stands as a symbol of hope, redemption, and the enduring quest for justice.
