# Kitchen Roosters -- Can Anyone Explain? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 14, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707 "2010-07-14T20:21:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/1 "2010-07-14T20:21:14Z")
I went out to buy some hooks to put on the wall in the kitchen to hold potholders. After checking about six stores, I finally located some – and they had roosters on them, above the hooks. Roosters? Anyway, my SO mentions to me that it’s about time we got something with a rooster on it in our kitchen, saying that it’s apparently good luck or something. Funny thing is, I can’t remember my mother ever having anything rooster-related in her kitchen, but now that I think of it, I can recall other people having things of this nature, from ceramic statuettes to those towels that go on your stove handle, to wallpaper border, etc. Does anyone know what gives with the roosters in the kitchen? ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/2 "2010-07-14T21:28:11Z")
Chicken art just belongs in the kitchen. It just does. I don’t know why, but I do know That’s Just The Way It Is. ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/3 "2010-07-14T21:37:01Z")
My grandmother always had rooster art in her kitchen. I have some of it now, but not displayed. I keep my actual roosters in the yard or in the freezer, depending. They’re not very decorative once they hit the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/4 "2010-07-14T21:52:51Z")
My mom always has one of these in her kitchen: [http://parkavenuegifts.com.au/what-you-will-find/the-portuguese-good-luck-roster/](http://parkavenuegifts.com.au/what-you-will-find/the-portuguese-good-luck-roster/) In addition to the legend as described, they’re also supposed to make your cooking better, apparently. I’m not sure that part worked in my mom’s case. 🙂 Anyhow - they’re pretty cute, and they tend to be lovely bright colours which I like in a kitchen. I meant to add that I’ve always heard them referred to as “Le Cock un Bonne Chance” but it’s really not a good idea to google that phrase. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/5 "2010-07-14T22:41:52Z")
i think it is fine as long as one person in the household is born in a chicken year… ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/6 "2010-07-15T09:28:08Z")
Not much wrong with a big cock in the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/7 "2010-07-15T13:24:09Z")
Chickens and roosters, like cows, are part of a “country theme” which many people seem to find inspirational when decorating their kitchens. I don’t personally get it, but my mother has lots of roosters AND cows in her kitchen. I like framed vintage menus and quirky stuff in my kitchen. I also like brightly striped kitchen towels and simple bright rugs. You can have the barnyard animals. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/8 "2010-07-15T13:48:36Z")
We have a copper plaque with chickens and roosters in the kitchen because it was a gift from our daughter, MilliCal. Why she chose it, I don’t know. Barnyard decor isn’t _de rigeure_ in the kitchen. A couple of years ago I deliberately gave my mother a cutting board in the form of a whale. Long story. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/9 "2010-07-15T13:51:19Z")
Heh, I was just thinking of this the other day, looking at my oven mitts and planning to replace them. They are rooster ones, and I planned to get new rooster mitts. Why? Who knows? They just fit. And we are Year of the Dragon and Rabbit, so no go there. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/10 "2010-07-15T13:53:10Z")
Chicken-shaped crap goes in the kitchen, fish-shaped crap goes in the bathroom. Honestly, didn’t your mother teach you anything about elementary interior decor? ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/11 "2010-07-15T13:54:22Z")
[This](http://ezinearticles.com/?Decorating-Your-Kitchen-With-Country-Rooster-Kitchen-Decor&id=2401741) article says the rooster/chicken theme is of Italian origin; it seems to be Tuscan in particular. " > [@](#): > > The truth of the matter is that even before Columbus discovered America, the cock was a classic trait in Italian homes. Proverbs teaching facts of everyday life, marriage, humanity and nature commonly refer to the rooster. The Portuguese consider him a symbol of good luck and display proudly. Decorating with roosters has become a very popular choice for all. ETA: My kitchen has crabs. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/12 "2010-07-15T13:58:30Z")
I am searching for a teal bird of paradise dinnerware set for hours and I can’t find it anywhere. There is something esthetically pleasing about birds and dinnerware in kitchen themes. I don’t know why but I am kicking my own butt I did not purchase this dinnerware set last year when it was on clearance. I know I’ll find it but it’s going to take a lot of searching. It’s about beauty and as I spend a good deal of time in the kitchen I love it to be beautiful. I fell hard for these plates. They were not Spode or anything expensive but the pattern was so vibrant. I want to say teal? It’s probably retired? Birds are cool. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/13 "2010-07-15T14:01:37Z")
> [@](#): > > The truth of the matter is that even before Columbus discovered America, the cock was a classic trait in Italian homes. What’s the Italian for “Plus ça change”? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/14 "2010-07-15T14:21:21Z")
That article is either very poorly written or very badly translated. ETA: **Perciful** , where did you see it? I have . . . resources. ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/15 "2010-07-15T18:32:39Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > That article is either very poorly written or very badly translated. > > ETA: **Perciful** , where did you see it? I have . . . resources. Hi Sigmagirl, I found it on my lunch break. Man that was a search and a half! I couldn’t remember the manufacter or the set name. This is the best deal I found. If you find better please post. Thanks… BTW It’s retired. [Paradise by American Atrlier](http://www.barronscatalog.com/product/tabletop/casual+dinnerware/american+atelier+paradise+dinnerware/american+atelier+paradise+20+piece+set.do?sortby=ourPicks) ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/16 "2010-07-15T18:44:13Z")
It’s gorgeous! $79.95 for a 20-piece set seems to be about the best you’ll do – the places I see that are cheaper are out of stock. Other than holding out till they offer free shipping, I think you should pounce. It’s so pretty! ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/17 "2010-07-15T18:51:37Z")
> [@In\_Winnipeg](#): > > Does anyone know what gives with the roosters in the kitchen? Why do you hate America? ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/18 "2010-07-16T01:20:16Z")
> [@Perciful](#): > > Hi Sigmagirl, > > I found it on my lunch break. Man that was a search and a half! I couldn’t remember the manufacter or the set name. This is the best deal I found. If you find better please post. Thanks… BTW It’s retired. > > [Paradise by American Atrlier](http://www.barronscatalog.com/product/tabletop/casual+dinnerware/american+atelier+paradise+dinnerware/american+atelier+paradise+20+piece+set.do?sortby=ourPicks) Oh those are beautiful! My grandparents always had rooster decor in the kitchen. My mom liked the cow theme. Not sure what’s up with that, but when I moved out I swore I’d never do cows or roosters. My kitchen is crap though. No decor, plain mismatched dishes. I guess I got my wish! ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/19 "2010-07-16T04:11:57Z")
I don’t like either the chicken/rooster theme or the apple theme for the kitchen. Mine has mice in it. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707/20 "2010-07-16T04:22:24Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > My mom always has one of these in her kitchen: > > [http://parkavenuegifts.com.au/what-you-will-find/the-portuguese-good-luck-roster/](http://parkavenuegifts.com.au/what-you-will-find/the-portuguese-good-luck-roster/) You can do what you like, of course, but as a housecleaner I disapprove of trinkets like that in a kitchen. Ceramic is okay for the living room and so forth, where they only attract dust. But in a kitchen, they’ll attract grease and food particles as well and have to be wiped down, not just dusted. And they’re usually not smooth; they usually have those crevices where nasty things can collect. And then there’s the question of where they belong on the counter, and I personally think they’re just a waste of space. > [@](#): > > In addition to the legend as described, they’re also supposed to make your cooking better, apparently. I’m not sure that part worked in my mom’s case. 🙂 Yeah, how could they make her cooking better when they were crowding her out of her work space? I’m only half kidding here. It’s the 21st century, and we don’t live in kitchens any more. We just work in them, and as such, they should be as efficient as possible. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-roosters-can-anyone-explain/546707.md?page=2)