In folk art, the rooster was a symbol of fire. Its blood-red crest and bright plumage, and its cries, were often used to personify sun and fire. The rooster was also associated with sunrise and sunset.

The rooster's cries were also used as a signal for important events, like the beginning of housework or a new day. As a result, the cries of roosters became part of riddles that were used to predict and divinate.

Among Slavic, Baltic and German peoples the rooster was often associated with fire. Its cries were also used as omens, adages and prophecies.

It was also a common symbol of the sun in folk magic and in rituals. The cries of the rooster were sometimes referred to as the sun's breath (in Slavic, Bulgarian and Macedonian piven, petel, and pevun), while in Russian a rooster's cries was a sign that the sun was about to rise.

Another popular Slavic folk song alludes to this association by focusing on the rooster's crest, beard and lavish curved tail. The cries of the rooster are also a common figure in Slavic and Polish folk art, particularly on kokoshnik, headdresses and other ornaments.

The rooster was also a harem bird, with a flock of hens that could number in the dozens. It was also a good source of protein, with its eggs a popular breakfast food. The rooster's harem also provided protection from predators, and it was an important ally in warfare.