Legend:

"SANTO DOMINGO DE LA CALZADA:WHERE THE HEN

SANG AFTER BEING ROASTED"

This is one of the well-known legends from the pilgrim road to

Santiago de Compostela.

Legend tells of a German Pilgrim called Hugonell who was walking

to Santiago with his parents, when they decided to rest at an

inn in Santo Domingo de la Calzada.

The owner of the inn´s daughter immediately fell in love with

him; however her feelings were not reciprocated, so the girl,

angered, placed a silver cup into his luggage and accused the boy

of theft.

Thieves at that time were punished by hanging, and this

was the fate of Hugonell.

His parents, saddened by his death continued the pilgrimage, and upon arriving in Santiago de

Compostela.

Several months later, while returning from Santiago de

Compostela, the German couple went past the place of execution -

when suddenly they heard their son talking to them from the gallows

above: “I am not dead, Santo Domingo de la Calzada has saved

my life by supporting my feet”.

The parents immediately hurried to the Mayor’s House with the

news of the miracle.

The Mayor was sitting at the dinner-table with a well-cooked cock and hen on a dish

in front of him.

He was just about to begin the feasting on this appetizing meal, when the German couple bursted into the dining room and

breathlessly reported what had happened.

The incredulous Mayor responded:

“That boy is as alive as these two roast chickens we are about

to eat”.And suddenly, the chickens

came to life, sprouted feathers and beaks and began to crow

Since then – and this is true – there is a cage in the Cathedral of Santo Domingo, with a live

hen and a cock, always white, in memory of the great miracle of

Santo Domingo.

THE END