Golden Roosters Atop of Churches

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One of the amazing things about Riga, Latvia was that their old churches have incredibly long church spires that did not end with crosses but with golden roosters. The reason behind this was that in the Christian tradition the rooster was thought to be a vigilant defender against evil and that his crowing in the morning could drive away all bad things. The roosters on top of the church spires also serve as wind indicators. This is important for the city of Riga because it is a seaport and wind direction is important for sailing vessels upon the Daugava River. From the river, you can clearly see the golden roosters.