The animal itself
The V formation saves up to 20% of the energy each bird would spend flying alone, and the lead position rotates. Bar-headed geese cross the Himalaya above 7 000 metres.1 of 2 calendars · 40 searches a month
Goose
Endurance over long distance.
Which calendar assigns it, and when
Native American calendar
22 December – 19 January
Its zodiac sign
Capricorn
Only the Native American calendar assigns this one. Anyone born in these dates gets a different animal from the other system — the two agree on 4.7% of days →
What it stands for, and where that came from
Endurance over long distance, sustained by taking turns.
Honoured in: Egyptian association with the sun; Roman geese credited with saving the Capitol by raising the alarm.
The symbolism usually grew out of the behaviour rather than the other way round — which is the part worth keeping when the rest is set aside.