Alabama has an abundance of signs that make me laugh. I saw one last week that, unfortunately, I couldn’t get a picture of because to do so would be dangerous: it was on a busy highway with nowhere to pull over. It said “Rods & Rifles 4 Christ,” and it’s apparently an event where people who love Jesus and hunting and fishing can share their common bonds while killing some of God’s creatures.

Since I couldn’t capture that sign, I offer this one as an insufficient but still kinda funny substitute.

At first I thought the pig was holding numbers like arrested people do in their booking photos, but it turns out the sign just says “Tasty.” That makes more sense but it’s not as interesting.

To submit your own Swine Sign, click on the “About” tab above!

I love this bunny’s crew cut. This service shares space with a barbershop,  so perhaps that’s not a coincidence.

To submit your own Swine Sign, click on the “About” tab above!

If you ever want to visit Barcelona but don’t know how to read Spanish or Catalan, you can still get by, no worries. Spaniards don’t want you to be in the dark about what their stores sell, so they make it very clear on their signage.

You don’t need to be able to read Arabic either. This shop was right across the street from the church of Christ we went to in Barceloneta, and two stores down from a Jewish butcher shop. This is a butcher shop that also sells Middle Eastern food and decor items. If you don’t know what the word “carnicería” means, just look at the pictures on the sign.

These animals are more realistic than cute, though the expression on the cow’s face does make me giggle. I think he’s the only one out of the three of them that realizes exactly what’s going on here.

Just one more to close this post out. This was on the side of a delivery truck near our studio rental in the El Born neighborhood. I can’t figure out what’s most disturbing: the fact that the pig is wearing pants but no shirt; that he’s carrying a plate of various meat products; or that he has a knife.

More from Barcelona coming soon!

To submit your own swine sign, click on the “About” tab above!

Barcelona is not a city for the faint-hearted vegetarian or vegan. For starters, the region is known for a specific kind of ham that is very expensive, and also supposedly very tasty. But for those whose wallets don’t match up with their tastebuds’ desires, never fear: other kinds of ham are everywhere. I’m not exaggerating.

Those are ham legs on display. You can buy bits shaved off, or you can buy the entire leg. Hoof and all. Shops will even package the leg for you if you’re traveling back ham–I mean, home–soon. Don’t have time or suitcase space for an entire leg? Never fear! Barcelona still has you covered.

For ham lovers on the go!

For just 4.50 in euros, you too can have your very own ham cone, perfect for snacking while walking. Which people in Barcelona do a lot of. Both snacking and walking, I mean. No wonder there are podiatrists and orthotics stores on every block.

Signs featuring animals were almost everywhere as well, it seemed. In the next few posts I’ll be sharing some of the swine signs we encountered while in Spain in February. A few of the pictures are a bit blurry, which happens when you’re learning how to use a new camera, but most are clear, and I hope you’ll enjoy them!

To submit your own swine sign, click on the “About” tab above!

I spotted this t-shirt on a guy while at a birthday at Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jacksonville, FL, last Saturday.

I think the pig would disagree with the words on the shirt.

He was surprised when I asked to take a picture of his shirt, and a little confused when I tried to explain my blog. Sir, if you’re reading this, check out my other posts and you’ll see that your shirt most definitely belongs here. 🙂

To submit your own Swine Sign, click on the “About” link above!

If you’ve ever wondered  why barbecue restaurants love putting pigs with human characteristics onto their signs; if you’ve ever rolled your eyes at the sight of a person in a cow costume passing out fried chicken samples; or if you’re here by accident because you were actually looking for information on swine flu symptoms–WELCOME! 

You’ve likely seen a Swine Sign, though you may not have realized it. That barbecue joint in your grandma’s hometown, the one whose sign has a pig licking his lips while holding a knife and fork? Yep, that one’s a Swine Sign: a sign that features a pig in some weird, funny, quirky, or even morbid way. Whether the sign has intentional irony or accidental comedy, it has a place here. 

Pigs aren’t the only animals used in advertising, of course, so Swine Signs is happy to point the spotlight on other creatures as well. Cows, chickens, fish, and sheep are just some of the possibilities. Keep your eyes open, because you never know when you’ll spy one. For information on submitting a picture of a Swine Sign, visit our “About” page. And again, welcome!