Many years ago a Galician pilgrim that was going to Santiago de Compostela, in Spain, to pay a promise, stayed at an inn in Barcelos, North of Portugal.

As he didn’t buy much because he had brought food with him, the greedy host accused him of theft.

The poor man, unknown in the city and with no one to defend him, was sentenced to death by hanging.

As a last will, he asked to see the judge who had sentenced him, to tell him once again that he was innocent. The judge was in a large banquet with friends and didn’t believe him.

 Then in his despair, the Galician, noticed that there was a roast chicken on a platter on the table, ready to be eaten, and said:
- As certain as I am innocent that cock will crow if I am hanged.

Everyone laughed at the man’s claim but decided not to eat the rooster.
At the moment he was going to be hanged, the cock stood up and sang!

The judge went to the place where he was about to be hanged and released him immediately.

Today, painted clay cocks are a Portuguese symbol and can be found in souvenir shops all around Portugal.

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