We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

There’s a buzz on social media about vintage cookie jars — and not just any cookie jars, but specifically those shaped like a goose. Some have a bow around the neck, others are dressed in a hat and shawl, and all of them come wrapped in nostalgia and memories. These ceramic Mother Goose cookie jars take one back to barefoot days in Grandma’s kitchen, surrounded by the heavenly smells of vanilla, ginger, or cocoa.

Have you ever wondered how cookie jars became a classic element in home decor? While the original cookie jar predates the Mother Goose version by a good few years, the goosey design emerged around the 1970s. They gained a swell of popularity during the ’80s, along with shoulder pads and blue mascara. It wasn’t unusual to find entire crockery sets devoted to ducks or geese — often with matching curtains. You might not want goose curtains in your modern kitchen, but these Light Blue Goose Kitchen Towels are a delightful match for a vintage Mother Goose cookie jar.

Goose cookie jars shared the shelf with other novelty jars in all sorts of designs — tiny houses, bulldogs, other nursery rhyme characters, even Christmas trees. Still, Mother Goose shows up regularly. Part of the charm is that they’re now considered vintage collectibles. Their resurgence in popularity may have something to do with sustainability and the rise of thrifting culture. Or maybe they remind us of a time when life was slower and simpler. Then again, maybe they’re just adorable!

Whether you’re prompted by the nostalgia of your own memories (remember “The Mother Goose Treasury: A Beautiful Collection of Favorite Nursery Rhymes for Children”?) or you’ve simply fallen for the charm of this quaint goose wrapped in whimsy, it’s easy to see why you’d want one of your own. We get it. When an item gets its own hashtag — #goosecookiejar — you know it’s a heart-stealer.

You may need to hunt a little, but thrift stores often have gems just waiting to be discovered. Goodwill is another option, as well as garage or estate sales. Online retailers carry a good selection too, though you’re likely to pay a whole lot more. If all else fails, use the hashtag and ask your online community to help you out. Goose cookie jar lovers have each other’s backs!

Once you’ve found one, lean into the whole vibe with other vintage kitchen accessories that are making a comeback (and learn how to style them). Are they truly practical as cookie jars? Without the airtight seal that modern containers provide, probably not. But to be honest, nobody buys them for practicality anymore — it’s all about the pure charm they bring to a home. And if your collection starts to get out of hand, you can always reuse vintage cookie jars for unique home decor your plants will love.