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!