Mitos y leyendas: The Cathedral’s Rooster

Mitos y leyendas shares with you the tale of the Cathedral rooster.

There was a man named Don Ramón known for his arrogance and haughtiness.

He was so drunk that he didn’t realize he challenged someone who wouldn’t tolerate any more disrespect.

In the days of yore, when Quito was home to a strong-willed man named Don Ramón Ayala, known as a true bully of the neighborhood.

One of his daily routines was to visit Doña Mariana’s shop in the traditional San Juan neighborhood. Doña Mariana’s reputation as the best maker of mistelas in the city was well known.

It was said she was a beautiful woman who had captured the hearts of all the men in the neighborhood with her beauty and her drinks.

In the shop, Don Ramón would spend hours chatting with his friends and drinking mistelas with great enthusiasm.

Haughtiness

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When he got drunk, he became even more arrogant, proclaiming his superiority over others.

After a few drinks, he would loudly bid farewell and stagger through the streets towards his home, near Independence Square.

Resting atop the city’s Main Church for years was the «Cathedral’s Rooster».

However, Don Ramón didn’t care much for this symbol of the city. In his drunkenness, he defied the Cathedral’s rooster, proclaiming his own superiority.

Punishment

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They say Don Ramón’s continuous provocations angered the Cathedral’s rooster. One night, as Don Ramón approached his usual spot, he felt a gust of wind over his head.

Not finding the rooster in its place filled him with fear. However, he tried to maintain his bravery in front of the rooster.

But before he could say a word, he received a spur in the leg and a peck on the head that left him on the ground.

From that position, he saw the Cathedral’s rooster staring at him furiously. Don Ramón, now scared, apologized to the rooster.

Promise

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The rooster, in a deep voice, made him promise not to drink mistelas or insult it again. Don Ramón promised, and the rooster warned him that if he didn’t comply, it would take more drastic measures.

After that encounter, Don Ramón changed. He became more responsible and never returned to his bad habits. Some say it was all a prank planned by his neighbors to correct his behavior.

Doña Mariana’s shop lost popularity, and the mistelas ceased to be as famous. No one dared to challenge the Cathedral’s rooster after that, and the city continued its peaceful life under its protection.

Mitos y leyendas bids you farewell for now and hopes that the tale of the Cathedral rooster has pleased you. Until next time!