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

University of Bristol - Historical Photographs of China reference number: JC-m01. 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's family 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.