O Galo de Barcelos - The Rooster from Barcelos

Paço do Condes, Portugal

The Legend of the Galo de Barcelos (Barcelos, Portugal) is a story about a rooster and is the same story told on the trail to Santo Domingo de Calzada and on the Camino Frances. 

The Cross in the Paço do Condes, represents the miraculous account of the roasted cockerel  that rose from the table of the judge who had wrongly condemned a Pilgrim to Santiago to hang from the gallows located south of the river.  The pilgrim had maintained that he was innocent and stated that if her were wrongly condemned  to hang then a dead cockerel would rise from the judge's table in proof of his righteousness.  The poor lad was hung and sure enough the roasted  cockerel stood up on the judges plate as he sat down to dinner that night.  The judge, in shock, ran to the gallows to find the pilgrim still alive. - saved by a miraculous intervention of St. James and the galo!

O Galo de Barcelos Portuguese Version Num banquete dado por um rico proprietário de Barcelos, foi roubada uma peça valiosa de prata e um dos convidados foi acusado do crime. Foi julgado e culpado pelo tribunal. Apesar das provas evidentes contra ele, reclamou sempre a sua inocência. O Magistrados deu ao acusado uma última oportunidade de se justificar. Vendo um galo dentro de um cesto perto dele, disse: “Se eu estiver inocente o galo cantará”. O galo cantou e o prisioneiro foi libertado.

English Version At a banquet given by a rich landowner in Barcelos, a valuable piece of silver was stolen and one of guests was accused of the theft. He was tried by the court and was found guilty. In spite of the overwhelming evidence against him, he still protested his innocence. The magistrate granted the man a final chance to prove his case. Seeing a cock in a basket nearby he said, “If I am innocent, the cock will crow.” The cock crowed and the prisoner was allowed to go free.

The Rooster from Barcelos is the unofficial symbol of Portugal.  You will find this crafty rooster most anywhere you go in ceramic form, key chains, paper weights, aprons...you name it. This symbol somehow embodies the love for life that is so characteristic of the Portuguese People.

Buen Camino!