Geese make for a strange welcome totem, but that never stopped anybody

October 24, 2018 7:41 PM

From its humble origins in Kentucky and waddling as far west as Colorado, concrete geese dominated many a lawn and the front porch step in the 80's and 90's. But why geese? Why these clothes? And would a real-life example be any cuter? (Previously on Metafilter)
posted by dinty_moore (17 comments total)

This post entirely brought about by finding out that people who grew up outside the gooey center of America (on the east coast, California, and Minnesota) had no idea what I was talking about when I pointed out those ducks in raincoats were real life concrete geese.

Other observations when explaining concrete geese to outsiders:
1. Concrete geese do not acknowledge the gender binary. Your goose could be in a bikini one week and an uncle sam costume the next, and nobody thought a thing of it.

2. It was very important that you changed your goose's clothes regularly, otherwise the neighbors might judge.

3. Geese are horribly aggressive and not welcoming at all and I have no idea why anyone would choose a goose to clothe, but no other lawn ornaments were clothed in this manner.

4. Sometimes you discover that aspects of your childhood are a lot more regional than you would have expected, and things you took for granted are really strange when you have to describe them out loud.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:59 PM on October 24, 2018 [18 favorites]

I wonder if anyone has yet written a paper about this phenomenon vs. that of seasonal outfits for saints in some churches.
posted by emjaybee at 8:30 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]

This might just be my search history, but I tried to search for seasonal outfits saint statues and all I got were more geese.

(Proof)

I'd love pictures though, if you can find them.
posted by dinty_moore at 6:17 AM on October 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

MetaFilter: things you took for granted are really strange when you have to describe them out loud.
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:19 AM on October 25, 2018 [2 favorites]

On searching: When you find that there are businesses called “Goose Clothes Galore,” you know you are into something.
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:55 AM on October 25, 2018 [2 favorites]

Never heard of this growing up in Western New York, but found some instances after moving to the DC area. There was one on a former commute, and while initially perplexing, I looked forward to seeing the change of clothes with the season. Everything from a bright yellow raincoat and matching hat during the rainy spring to a full on Santa suit during Christmas. I changed my commute, but I should go back and see if it's still there.
posted by ElleElle at 9:00 AM on October 25, 2018

I am up in North Dakota, near the Canadian border. I will make a sacrifice to the old gods tonight in order to insure that my wife does not find out that this is "a thing", buy a goose, and start buying outfits.
posted by Ber at 10:14 AM on October 25, 2018 [5 favorites]

Concrete geese are not the best choice for every lawn. You do not want to see this guy with concrete geese.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:15 AM on October 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

You do not want to see this guy yt with concrete geese.

You’re not the boss of me!
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:18 AM on October 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

I loved these, with their little outfits! They were everywhere in my Midwestern neighborhood. I tried getting my mom to buy one at every craft show she dragged me to when I was in middle school, with no luck. Now that I have my own house, I kind of forgot about them until now.
posted by Fig at 10:22 AM on October 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

We have an indoor goose. She prefers to stay inside. Pictures to follow.
posted by stannate at 11:59 AM on October 25, 2018 [2 favorites]

Huh. I grew up in Iowa and have never heard of this.
posted by thedaniel at 1:43 PM on October 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

I don't remember this is northern Indiana in the mid-90s, which is weird, because it seems like a thing that would've been popular in my neck of the woods.
posted by grandiloquiet at 2:43 PM on October 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

Hmmmm. Maybe if I threaten to get a lot of concrete geese and dress them up, my husband will retract his ban on two real geese instead
posted by WalkerWestridge at 2:44 PM on October 25, 2018 [2 favorites]

I am this close to trying to map locations and whether or not people grew up where concrete ducks were a thing, because I'm finding this fascinating.
posted by dinty_moore at 3:20 PM on October 25, 2018

Spent five dismal years in Kankakee, IL, and concrete geese with outfits were definitely a thing. I remember a kiosk in the local mall sold the outfits.
posted by Daily Alice at 3:29 PM on October 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

Today is Oie on the French Republican calendar, so here’s our indoor goose.
posted by stannate at 6:47 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]