shrill chanticleer

All this night shrill chanticleer,
Day's proclaiming trumpeter,
Claps his wings and loudly cries
"Mortals, mortals, wake and rise!" (Mediaeval carol)

A papal edict from the 9th century A.D. helped bring the weathervane to the skies of most of Europe. Rome declared that every church in Christendom must be adorned by a cockerel, a symbol to remind Christians of Peter's betrayal of Christ: "I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me." (Luke 22:34)

Which is a pretty important pedigree you must admit. It seems a little bit of anti-climax to discover that one well known supermarket chain has adorned all its branches with a little mock tower and cockerel weather vane like this.

I often go there - as do hundreds of thousands each day. Which means, at one level at least, that Morrison's is doing a little better than the Church! Ah well, they do say that for many "retail" is the new religion!