Tradition of a Rooster in Kitchen

Italian Conspiracies

• Rooster pitcher tradition dates back to the 15th century legend of the most powerful families in Florence, Italy -- the Medicis and the Pazzis. The Pazzi family wished to gain complete power through assassination of the Medici family. A plot was hatched for hired assassins to sneak into the Medici camp when everyone was asleep. The scheme was foiled when alarmed roosters began crowing frantically, waking the Medicis. Capturing the intruders, Guiliano Medici ordered the creation of ceramic, guardian rooster pitchers and distributed them among the peasants who worked his land, for good luck.

Portuguese Justice

• Portuguese legend tells of a man traveling through Spain who was wrongly accused of stealing. Sentenced to death by hanging, the man pleaded his innocence with the judge, who was about to sit down to a meal of roasted rooster. The desperate man declared that the judge's plate of roasted rooster would validate his innocence by standing up and crowing. But the judge sent him to the gallows anyway, and prepared to resume his supper. At that moment, the rooster stood up and crowed, and the judge hurried to free the man. Carved roosters represent faith, luck and justice in Portugal.

American Farm Fantasy

• Life on a country farm evokes idyllic, and largely unrealistic, images of a serene, peaceful existence of grazing cattle and crowing roosters. Perched atop a rustic rail fence, the proud rooster lifts his head and crows loudly at the first flicker of morning sun. This charming, if fairy tale version of farm lifestyle is exemplified in rooster-themed decor adorning American kitchens. From city apartments to stately mansions, decorating kitchens in a rooster design brings the quaint flavor of country living into any kitchen.

Decor to Crow About

• Decorating kitchens with traditional, rooster-themed design has been an enduring country style. Start with one rooster ceramic piece, accent lamp or cookie jar in the kitchen -- Italian painted rooster pitchers serve lightly chilled Chianti at an indoor picnic. A stenciled rooster on the seat of an island bar stool adds rustic charm. Rooster rugs, place mats, chair pads or tablecloths, linens, dish towels and other kitchen essentials are other possibilities for incorporating the cocky bird into kitchen decor. Baker racks, window treatments and canisters adorned with the rooster images theme are other possibilities. Just remember that one rooster is usually enough for one barnyard. You may not want a flock of them in your kitchen.