Roosters of Fortune
Because his cry announces the dawn of a new day, the rooster is associated with the Sun, renewal and rebirth. In the Christian tradition, the rooster is associated with Christ and the resurrection. The cock is also a symbol of watchfulness and for this reason often appears on weather vanes.
It is an Italian tradition to give a ceramic rooster pitcher as a wedding or housewarming gift because the rooster symbolizes good fortune or good luck and is believed to protect one from dangers. The tradition dates back to the Renaissance period, when an assassination attempt on one of the Medicis was foiled when the roosters noticed the intruder and started crowing. In honor of the roosters, the Medicis commissioned artisans to make ceramic wine pitchers in the shape of roosters, which were exchanged among friends as a totem of good luck against danger. (Another Italian legend involving roosters is the basis for every bottle of chianti classico featuring the silhouette of a black rooster.)
In Portugal, the “Cock of Barcelos” has become a national symbol of faith, good luck and justice based on an old legend about a rooster who saves a condemned man from death.
(above) The Legend of the Cock of Barcelos
(right) Flock of Cocks, House of Good Fortune Collection
Flock of cocks, House of Good Fortune Collection.
Image of the Cock of Barcelos; Cover of Pamphlet from International Travel Service
Back of pamphlet from International Travel Service; House of Good Fortune Collection
“The Legend of the Lord of the Cock”
The rooster has similar associations in the East.
The rooster is one of the twelve signs of the Chinese Zodiac, symbolizing honesty, bravery and fortitude. People born in the Year of the Rooster are believed to be hardworking, resourceful, and courageous. In Chinese folk stories, all ghosts are scared by the rooster's crow because ghosts can only appear at night and the rooster's crow means the day is coming, reinforcing its role as a protector and symbol of safety.
The rooster’s rich symbolism spans various cultures and traditions, making it a powerful emblem of renewal, vigilance, and good fortune. Whether as a herald of dawn, a symbol of protection, or a bringer of luck, the rooster continues to hold a special place in the hearts and minds of people around the world.