Kireogi (Wild Geese)
 
A pair of wild geese made from wood represent the new husband and wife. In the
Jeonanrye part of the marriage ceremony,
the groom gives a single kireogi to his mother-in-law. The geese symbolize
several virtues that the couple should follow in their married life:
Wild geese keep the same partner for life. Even of one dies, the other will not
seek a new partner for the rest of his or her life:
Wild geese understand hierarchy and order. Even when flying, they maintain
structure and harmony.
Wild geese have the nature to leave their existance wherever they go. People
should leave a great legacy for their descendants when they leave this world.
Chickens
A male and female chicken (one wrapped in a blue cloth, the other in a red one) sit on or
under the wedding table. One meaning is the symbolism associated between roosters and
the morning. The crowing of the rooster marked the beginning of the day, a bright, fresh
start, just like the marriage should be. The crowing of the rooster also told the evil
spirits that day was coming and they had to disappear. The rooster in the wedding ceremony
marks a hope that evil spirits will go away and not trouble the new couple.
A secondary meaning represents the hopes that the couple will have many children,
very important in a traditional agrarian society. As productive chickens made many eggs,
thus should the new bride produce many children.
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