Europe has some very strange holiday customs. For example, Krampus. There’s also the Yule goat, which since 1966 has been erected in Gavle, Sweden. In Swedish custom, before Santa Claus became popular in the 20th Century, men dressed as goats and gave out presents to good children. To remind folks of this custom, an ad executive in Galve came up with the idea of erecting a giant straw goat. Well, for the 24th time, that goat has been set ablaze.
Every year the town builds the straw goat, and every year it gets burned. Or run over. Or it gets its legs cut off by vandals. The cops try to stop it with flame retardant chemicals or post guards or watch it with closed-circuit cameras, and the vandals get more creative and bold in their efforts. In recent years, Santa and the Gingerbread Man have burned down the goat. No doubt next year that goat is gonna burn.
Some traditions must continue.
Image: Telegraph
Tags: Gavle, Sweden, Yule goat burned for the 24th year, Yule celebrations, holiday traditions, traditional vandalism, unusual holiday traditions, Christmas vandalism, burning a Christmas goat