The Connection Between Roosters And Country Kitchen Design Is Deeper Than You Think

Go to any cookware shop or thrift store, and chances are that you will find loads of kitchenware, pottery, salt and pepper shakers, and sundry ornaments depicting roosters. They are super cute, bringing a touch of whimsy to the kitchen, and coveted by collectors. But have you ever wondered why roosters are so often associated with kitchen design, specifically with the French Country look? Besides the obvious connection to farmhouses and the countryside, it turns out the rooster holds ample cultural and religious significance around the world.

France is perhaps the country in which the rooster reaches its most iconic status as an unofficial national symbol. Known as "Le Coq Gaulois," meaning the Gallic rooster, the rooster is a symbol of bravery, pride, and heritage prominent on flags during the French Revolution. It was also a symbol of the French Resistance during World War II. The bird is even proudly worn on the jerseys of the French national football team as their emblem.

Additionally, roosters carry religious connotations. Christians associate the bird with the biblical story in which Jesus Christ prophesied that Simon Peter would deny him three times before the rooster crowed. After the resurrection, Jesus would restore Peter three times, once for every denial. For this reason, roosters were often used to decorate church bells and watchtowers. And here you thought they were just cute little critters! Of course, thanks to the quaint elegance that made the country-style kitchen design so popular, the rooster has more than earned its place as the preferred barnyard animal of kitchen décor.

If you think that roosters and hens belong in the kitchen, but you're not a fan of French Country design, we have some good news. Many cultures around the world utilize them in different ways. For some, roosters represent good luck and prosperity and (along with hens) can be represented in kitchenware, fabrics, and as lovely folk art souvenirs in places like Ukraine, Portugal, Mexico, and many Asian countries.

You can find them decorating everything from plates to coffee cups and tea towels. Likewise, salt cellars, pitchers, and egg baskets are often made in the shape of a rooster or hen. Even when these little tchotchkes are not utilitarian, they are usually colorful and interesting, so you can use them to inspire your color palette for a kitchen redesign that won't look dated or to create a cool focal point on a shelf or corner.

So, if you are a collector of such little keepsakes and you are in the process of renovating your space, don't discard these kitchen roosters. You can look to them for inspiration and create your own farmhouse look by incorporating the timeless charm of the rooster into the kitchen.