| 'I was shopping in a store recently (Rome, Italy) when I overheard a lady telling her friend that 'roosters are a symbol of good luck in Spain.' In shop after shop that day I found roosters. They were on pottery, dishes, linens and in art. Everywhere I looked there were roosters. Several of my friends collect them but I hadn't really thought about the significance they have on many cultures until then.
In Portugal and in many Latin American countries the rooster symbol in a home is thought to bring good luck to the family. The Chinese view the rooster as a symbol of honesty, fortune, luck, fidelity and protection.
The ancient Greeks thought the rooster to be an exotic animal of valor that the lions were afraid of. In Christian culture the rooster became the symbol of repentance, religious vigilance and Christ's resurrection.
In Italian secular culture the rooster was held responsible for saving lives. This legend dates back before the Renaissance. According to the legend a crowing rooster saved an entire village by awakening the village to the presence of their enemy. Today a rooster in the home is considered to be a protector.
Although the Gallo (Rooster) pattern originated in the Italian city of Orvieto the ceramic center of Deruta claims the pattern as one of their classic designs."
Walking Tours of Rome: Roosters: A Tradition of Good Luck |
