The Miracle of the Cock and Hen

Today I was in this Cathedral in Santo Domingo, Spain. There was lots of cool sculptures and paintings to look at; that is if you like tombs and other sad depictions of a bunch of dead people. Sorry to all the history lovers, but cathedrals are not my cup of tea. But this one had a special (not dead) guest. Yes, this rooster lives right there. The story of the Miracle of the Cock and Hen has been passed down for generations. And it goes like this.

In the 14 th century, a German 18-year old named Hugonell, from Xanten, goes on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela with his parents. A Spanish girl at the hostel where they were staying falls in love with him; Hugonell denies her advances. Angry at this, the girl hides a silver cup in the German's bag and informs the authorities that the young man has taken it. Hugonell is sentenced to death in the gallows, in accordance with the laws of Alfonso X of Castile.

Mourning the death of his son, the parents sadly decide to examine their son's body, still hanging on the gallows, but suddenly they hear his voice. He tells them that Santo Domingo de la Calzada has kept him alive.

His parents quickly go to see the magistrate in order to announce that the miracle has taken place. The magistrate, who is at the time eating dinner remarks: "Your son is as alive as this cock and hen that I am about to eat". And in that moment, the two birds jump from the plate and begin to sing and crow happily.

So the famous verse:
"SANTO DOMINGO DE LA CALZADA, WHERE THE HEN CROWS AFTER BEING ROASTED"

In the cathedral of Santo Domingo a hen house worked in stone can be seen. In it, there is always an alive cock and hen.

PS. I only saw the rooster, but I'm sure there must have been a hen there somewhere!