Sweden's Christmas goat succumbs to flames

[Loppan Torkel]

http://www.thelocal.se/37690/20111202/

“Only the skeleton is left,” said Sven-Erik Hammar of the Gävle police to news agency TT.

Police received a call in the early hours of Friday, reporting that the goat was on fire. Five minutes later it had gone up in smoke.

This year, those trying to protect the goat doused it in water with the idea that if it freezes, it will be much more difficult to burn down, according to daily Aftonbladet.

Despite emergency services arriving on the scene within a few minutes, the goat could not be saved.

“It all went damn quickly,” said eye-witness Felix Söderström to daily Aftonbladet,

The giant straw goat, which has been erected in the town's main square every year since 1966, undergoes a battle against the elements and local arsonists every year, which splits loyalties in the town.

Half of the inhabitants take pride in the giant animal, while the other half take equal pride in attempting to burn it down.

45 times erected, 28 times burnt down - Which is the greater tradition?

 

[Miles Teg]

The city can't just post a guard?

 

[Sveon]

And spoil the fun?

 

[Cheetah]

That's two absolutely awesome traditions!

I really should take a trip to Gävle some time.

 

[Maniacal]

That is an awesome tradition.

 

[Cheetah]

Also:

Pics or it didn't happen!

 

[GoodSarmatian]

I'm relieved it's not a real goat.
But why did you leave out the best parts of the story ?

In 2001, it was torched by an American tourist, who served a month in jail and was fined 100,000 kronor ($14,700), while claiming in his defense that he thought he had been participating in a local and perfectly legal tradition.

I guess you can't really blame the guy if half the town's trying to burn it.

Previous attempts to sabotage it have included the bribing of security guards and a foiled helicopter heist.

I want to know about the helicopter thing !

 

[Theige]

I want to know about the helicopter thing !

2nd'd

 

[amadeus]

Aggregate Demand for Straw in Sweden Poised for Increase



I heard this before about the goat. But, why a goat? Also, 3rd'd on the helicopter story.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

http://www.thelocal.se/30912/20101217/

Two mysterious men attempted to bribe a guard to leave his post watching over the giant goat in Gävle in eastern Sweden in an attempt to kidnap the iconic Christmas symbol using a helicopter.

According to the guard, referred to only as Mats, the two men wanted to kidnap the goat using a helicopter and take it away to Stureplan in central Stockholm.

Annoying video, but from this year's burning

Link to video.

 

[holy king]

http://thequirkyglobe.blogspot.com/2010/12/giant-goat-kidnap-by-helicopter-foiled.html





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gävle_goat

 

[GoodSarmatian]

So, the whole plot fell apart when they failed to bribe the guard ?
That's a disappointment .

 

[emzie]

What good would a guard do against a helicopter?

Amazing tradition. Hope to see another thread about this next year, with a totally outlandish stunt to bring the goat down.

 

[Skwink]

I came expecting a real goat.

 

[Masada]

yet more evidence that sweden isn't a safe secure place and that it should be returned to denmark for its own peace good order and security

 

[Artifis]

I came expecting a real goat.

Wrong on so many levels.

 

[Verbose]

yet more evidence that sweden isn't a safe secure place and that it should be returned to denmark for its own peace good order and security

That didn't end well for the Danes when they tried it. By their count, Sibiria begins on our side of the strait.

It's like the Danish director Rumle Hammerich once put it:
On the surface Sweden is alla rational, poised and controlled, but behind they eyes you can just make out that glint of madness.

 

[Darth Caesar]

I'd love to go there and burn it down one day

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

So...how long until I see the SATW comic for this?

 

[Zelig]

This is excellent.