17 votes

Giant straw goat that has become an annual highlight in the Swedish city of Gävle has been burned by an arsonist... again

Posted by mycketforvirrad
Tags: sweden.gavle, holidays, christmas, cultural heritage, gavlebocken, crime, arson, offbeat, source.bbc
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59696442

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Title
Sweden's Gavle Christmas goat torched... again
Published
Dec 17 2021
Word count
41 words

3 comments

  1. JRandomHacker
    Link
    Here are some great stories of the Gävlebocken burning

    Here are some great stories of the Gävlebocken burning

    5 votes
  2. [2]
    AugustusFerdinand
    Link
    So are the attacks/attempted theft just because or is it some sort of protest?

    So are the attacks/attempted theft just because or is it some sort of protest?

    2 votes
    1. drannex
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      This is basically a tradition. Every year people attempt to burn down the massive straw goat, and for the past four years no one has been able to - until now! I believe its an omen for a better...

      This is basically a tradition. Every year people attempt to burn down the massive straw goat, and for the past four years no one has been able to - until now! I believe its an omen for a better year.

      Since 1966 the Goat has been destroyed, primary by fire, a total of 38 times. The fine for doing so is small(ish, ~5k USD, if you are served a fine at all) and you are set on 'probation' for just a few months or in jail for a few weeks (appears to be dependent on if you were drinking or not). Most are not caught.

      Edit: Added some more details.

      10 votes