3. Lenda do Galo de Barcelos
(Tale of the Barcelos´ Rooster)
4. Crime
A Galician pilgrim, on his way to Santiago de Compostela,
passed by Barcelos where he was accused of having
committed a crime, and sentenced to death by hanging.
As a last request, he asked for a meeting with the judge who
had sentenced him to death and who was getting ready to eat
a delicious roasted cockerel.
The pilgrim swore he was innocent but as nobody
seemed to believe in him, he asked for Saint
James’ help. He pointed to the roasted cockerel on
the dinner table and proclaimed “It is as certain
that I am innocent as it is certain that this rooster
will crow when you hang me.” The judge didn’t
accept his life appeal but, as he was a
superstitious man, he didn’t eat the cockerel.
5. Innocence
According to the legend, after some time, the pilgrim returned
to Barcelos where he carved the Cruzeiro do Senhor do Galo
(Crucifix to the Lord of the Rooster).
Nowadays we can see the Crucifix to the Lord of the Rooster
in the Archaeological Museum of Barcelos and the rooster has
become one of the national symbols of Portugal.
That night, when the prisoner was
being hanged, the cock got up
from the plate and started to crow.
The judge became aware of his
mistake and ran to the gallows
where he met the pilgrim, who
hadn’t died due to a loose knot.
7. Lenço dos Namorados (Valentine's handkerchief) is made of a
cloth of linen or cotton, embroidered with several types of
drawings and verses. It is a piece of handicraft and clothing
typical of the Minho Region.
Once a girl reached marriageable age and had set her sights on
a young man, she would embroider a handkerchief especially for
him. The designs she chose were symbols of romance and their
future relationship and she would usually embroider a written
message or poem declaring her affections for him.
The young woman would know if she had successfully
won him over if the man wore her handkerchief in
public.
8. The tradition of embroidering handkerchiefs with messages of
devotion originated in the 17th century among aristocrats;
however, by the 18th century it had been adapted into this
courtship ritual and become part of popular culture.
Then, the designs became more colourful, bright, cheerful and
pretty. As most young girls didn´t go to school, Valentine's
handkerchieves always had spelling mistakes like “Curaçao”
instead of “Coração” (heart) and “buar” instead of “voar” (to fly).
The axe easily cuts firewood but no axe in the
world can cut our friendship.
10. The Portuguese Swallow, a little black ceramic bird, can be seen
everywhere in Portugal - either inside or outside Portuguese
houses.
The first ceramic swallows were designed in 1891 by a famous
Portuguese handcrafter, Rafael Bordallo Pinheiro, and were soon
adopted by everyone, becoming a symbol of Portuguese homes.
11. As these migratory birds always seek to build their nest in the
same place where they previously inhabited, they became a
symbol of Family and Home which was particularly relevant
given the emigration waves that Portugal went through during
the XX century.
For some people, the swallows on the façade of the house
represent their family – two bigger ones for the parents and then
smaller ones for each child.
12. These birds also have a single partner during their
entire life, and therefore also stand for Love, Loyalty
and Faithfulness.
Moreover, they are amulets of harmony, happiness and
prosperity at the houses they are hanged on.
Nowadays, with traditions adapting to the tastes of
tourists, you can find not only the ones for putting on
the wall but also fridge magnets, bags, brooches and
others.
