The rooster in Polish culture symbolized not only courage and national pride but also fertility and prophecy. In harvest tradition, women carried wreaths adorned with roosters to herald abundance. However, if the rooster attempted to flee or refused grains, it foretold infertility and hardship.
Silesian and Lesser Poland Culture: Beliefs and Customs Associated with the Rooster
In regions like Lesser Poland and Silesia, the rooster played a significant role in local beliefs and customs. The prolonged crowing of a rooster often heralded death or fire. Dreams of a rooster were believed to predict a boy’s birth, and its crowing could signify rain or fair weather, depending on context.
Folk Medicine
The symbolic significance of the rooster also found expression in folk medicine practices. Rooster blood played a special role in various healing rituals. For instance, in Podlasie, black rooster blood was used to treat children suffering from convulsions. Feathers, entrails, and blood were utilized to counteract curses and treat ailments such as epilepsy, fits of madness, skin diseases, or dropsy.