Friday, June 11, 2010

Italian Rooster Pitcher Is Something to Crow About for Cindy's "My Romantic Home" Show and Tell


Have you ever been to a swap where no money is involved?

You just bring items you no longer want and exchange them for new treasures!  It's a great way to recycle and "shop" without busting your budget. It's also a nice, inexpensive way for human services or other agencies to offer something fun to their employees and supporters! Add some barbecued hot dogs,  pizza, or subs and you have an event to remember !




At such a swap this week, my takeaway was a ceramic rooster pitcher. Bursting with color, I knew in an instant it must have been made in Italy. The ceramics there are always so happy and colorful.





Sure enough, on the bottom of my new rooster pitcher are the words "Made in Italy."

When I got home, naturally I wanted more information on rooster pitchers from the Internet and was not disappointed. Did you know that Italian rooster pitchers symbolize "good fortune"  and/or "good luck?"  Italian tradition calls for giving such pitchers as wedding or housewarming gifts. They are supposed to protect recipients from trespassers and danger!







There's even a story about rooster pitchers that dates to the early Renaissance period in Italy.  Apparently, roosters saved a well known Italian family from being assassinated by enemies trying to gain power in Florence, Italy. When all the roosters started cackling, the noise woke up members of the family being targeted, which, ultimately, saved their lives.

When the family later realized how close they came to death, they asked that artisans make ceramic replicas of roosters to be used as wine pitchers. This was a way to honor the roosters who rescued them from being killed.
That's the origin of how rooster pitchers protect against danger! I'm so glad I attended that swap!

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH ITALIAN ROOSTER PITCHERS?

Check out Cindy's blog in the sidebar to see many more great Show and Tell offerings!

13 comments:

Linda @ A La Carte said...

That is such great info and no I don't have any Italian Roosters, but I am loving them and might just have to keep my eyes out for open them!!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Very exciting swap and awesome rooster pitcher! Gorgeous, vibrant colors. Great information too.

Sarah said...

What a great swap item. Glad it went home with you! I adore rooster pitchers - Italian, French, Mexican, . . .

Bella's Rose Cottage said...

Hello Susan, It sounds like you had a wonderful time at your swap! Your new rooster pitcher is so cute and happy:-)
Bella

Vanessa said...

I spent a few childhood years in Italy and my mom has a collection of absolutely gorgeous Italian rooster pitchers. I always pick up cute thrifted imitations but rarely ones made in Italy. The one you found is gorgeous, I'm envious! I'd start a collection of my own but I always give them to mom!

diane stetson said...

Well, cockadoodle doo! What a find for you!

Claus said...

What a great story behind rooster pitchers! Something new I learned today. I was not familiar with them, but my mom does have a collection of rooster items at home! There are ceramic figures, salt and pepper shakers, plates...she just loves them! No complicated reason behind the collection. She simply liked them, and started to collect them. I'm sure she would've loved your swap takeaway. What a great kind of swap! Sadly, not such thing around here.

have a great day!

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

What a festive little guy. My sis-in-law collects roosters and has a kitchen overflowing.

Anonymous said...

I sure never knew that. It's so colorful and pretty. I'm lovin the flowers in your previous post, too. You sure got yourself a green thumb.

Susan said...

Hi Girls! Love, love, loved reading your comments today. We all learned about roosters, didn't we? Come back soon? Pul-eeeeese? Sincerely, Susan

Martha's Favorites said...

Hi Susan: Just wanted to let you know you can always come by and visit be anytime. No appointment necessary. You won't find a musuem, instead a home filled with pretty things that I use all the time. My Grandson Noah is allowed to play freely here. I am sorry if it seems stuffy it is not believe me. I love your rooster pitcher. I have never been to the kind of swap that you described, it sounds like so much fun. You came home with a winner. Thanks for the education on the rooster too! Love you, Martha

Kayte said...

What a handsome guy! I've got a bit of a rooster fetish and can always find room for one more. I like the idea of the rooster as good luck. A happy thought.

con amore said...

What a beautiful Rooster......! I have a small collection of 15 Roosters.....I was told that the roosters originally came from the Island of Sardegna.
Happy hunting for new treasures

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