North Korean Wedding Geese

A couple weeks ago we were given these as a wedding gift from some friends of ours that do business in North Korea. I treasure them. I'm fascinated by North Korea's closed political state, and hang on ever word when I hear little tidbits about the culture and traditions of the people, since so much of what we typically hear (if we hear anything at all) is the culture and tradition of "the Dear Leader." 

They told us that these geese were a traditional wedding gift in that country and that they are meant to always be looking at one other or swimming side by side (as pictured above) . Having one perpendicular to the other is not accepted because the couple should always be looking in love or swimming in cooperation with one another.

Though small, the geese hold a large place in my heart. Out from a place that seems so dark in knowledge and understanding comes a simple truth about what makes a marriage work. And every time I look at them I remember the wisdom of North Korea's people as traditions like these get handed down generation to generation.