What It Means If You See A Concrete Goose In Someone's Yard
Lawn ornaments have been a creative way for homeowners to decorate their property for years. Yard decor like oversized plastic candy canes, ghosts, or skeletons typically come out during the holidays. They are a part of meaningful traditions for many families. Some of the ornaments we see today also have fascinating meanings that date back decades. When you see a concrete goose in someone's yard, you should know that geese represent courage and protection.
Placing a concrete goose on a lawn or porch may have started out as a way to protect the home symbolically, but it soon evolved into something else. Homeowners eventually began having fun with these ornaments and playfully dressing them up in clothes, accessories, and even holiday costumes. You may see a goose dressed as Santa Claus in the days leading up to Christmas. In February you might even find one of these concrete creatures decorated in pink and red hearts for Valentine's Day. After reading up on the history of the fake goose lawn ornament, you should be a little less confused the next time you spot one in a neighbor's yard.
The concrete goose became popular in the '80s
You may be wondering how geese became symbolic of protection and bravery. Farmers are reportedly responsible for giving them this reputation, per the Chicago Bungalow Association. Geese have been used for hundreds of years to serve as flock guardianship to help protect farm animals from predators, per Backyard Poultry. They alert farmers to dangers with their loud honks. Geese are also not afraid to attack when necessary. However, they are much smaller than many predators so it is more beneficial for them to simply act as watchdogs to warn farmers.
Geese went from being known as a farmer's brave companion to a concrete lawn ornament in the '80s when they began popping up outside of homes in Ohio. The exact timeframe for when these ornaments originated is unclear. Some sources allege that goose lawn ornaments were actually first seen on American lawns in the '50s. Regardless of the uncertainty around when these ornaments first hit the market, they are believed to have peaked in popularity in the '80s.
They are most popular in the Midwestern region of the United States. Concrete geese became such a notable part of Midwestern culture that they helped set the scene in the ABC sitcom, "The Middle." The TV show, which takes place in the Midwest, assigned set decorator Julie Fanton the task of locating a concrete goose to place on the TV family's porch, according to The Atlantic.
The impact of concrete geese
Families became infatuated with the idea of buying outfits for their goose lawn ornaments and incorporating them in their holiday-themed decor. This resulted in businesses taking advantage of the sudden demand for little outfits to dress these ornaments. Of course, there was also an increase in the production of the concrete goose itself. Troy Adam, owner of pottery store Potteryland, spoke to Click On Detroit about how his family's business was first introduced to the concept in the '80s.
"Some lady came to my dad and said, 'Hey, there's this fad that's going around. It's actually from Pennsylvania, and people are dressing these geese.' So she and her sisters started making goose clothes," Adam said. "They started making outfits and it just exploded. We had three molds and started making three geese a day, five days a week all winter." The concrete goose eventually became one of Potteryland's highest-selling items. Adam went on to share that customers would share photos of the adventures their geese embarked on. One of the store's customers even dressed a goose in a George Washington costume and brought it to the White House.