Living in Portugal has its benefits in itself, but what many don’t expect is to encounter such a diverse culture and delights that only the country of the Rooster can offer.

By the way, do you know why the Rooster is a reference for Portugal? Well, then, stay with us because we are going to start this text precisely with him.

Follow everything here on the Blog of Porto Citizenship Portuguese and learn more about the traditions of Portugal to increase your repertoire of knowledge before arriving in Lusitanian lands.

Traditions in Portugal begin with the Galo de Barcelos

The Rooster that has become internationally known originates from the city of Barcelos. Legend has it that a man was saved from the gallows in medieval times at the very moment of the rooster’s crowing.

Read more: Understand how to assess a salary to live well in Portugal

The Portuguese symbol emerged when a young man was passing through the city on his way to Santiago de Compostela to fulfill a promise. The population at the time lived in tension due to a crime in which the culprits were not identified. The blame ended up falling on the young man.

Heartbroken as he was being tried in court, the young man pointed to a roast chicken. Yes! And he said his innocence was as certain as that rooster would crow on the day he was hanged.

On the day marked for death, a rooster crowed! The judge, when he heard it, hurriedly went to save the boy from condemnation, but when he arrived he had already been released. That’s because a poorly made knot on the gallows rope prevented the young man’s end.

After being cleared, the boy returned to the city and built the Cruzeiro do Senhor do Galo, in honor of the Virgin Mary and São Tiago.

Since then, the Galo de Barcelos has been everywhere, in the form of statues scattered throughout the city, in addition to being one of the most important souvenirs in Portugal.

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Source: Porto Cidadania Portuguesa