A goose being taken to the home of a bride-to-be

Title : A goose being taken to the home of a bride-to-be

Topic : Other collections

Location : Unknown

Estimated dates : 1920-30

Nature : Colorized Photo

Support image : Glass Plate

Caption on support : Goose taken to Home of the Bride. Bureau of Visual Instruction, Chicago Public Schools. G627.2 5227

Information data : University of Bristol - Historical Photographs of China reference number: jc-s10. Glass hand-coloured magic lantern slide. At the Proposal Meeting (of the parents of the bride-to-be and her groom), the bridegroom's family will present the bride with a live goose. The bride's family should not kill the goose and eat it, because the goose represents the groom. If the goose is quiet when it is given to the bride's family, it indicates that the groom has a good personality. If noisy, it indicates that the groom is quick-tempered. The bride's family should leave the goose in a pond. The bird in this photograph seems to be a Tundra swan (Bewick's swan or Whistling swan) (Cygnus columbianus).

Keywords : Carstairs;furniture;table;bird;swan;betrothal;fiancé;bridegroom;marriage;wedding;marital;ritual;rite;custom;symbol