In 1966 the town Galve in Sweden started a surprising Christmas tradition of erecting a giant straw goat in the city centre. The problem has been keeping the goat from being vandalised. Dogs, security cameras, webcams, fences, police and solider guards have failed to keep the goat intact. Since 1966 the goat has only survived 10 times till Christmas day.

Some historical goat highlights

1966 First goat constructed and burnt New Years Eve - tradition started.

1968 The goat survived, but it is said that one night a couple made love inside the goat.

1970 The goat burned down only six hours after it was assembled.

1972 The goat collapsed because of sabotage.
1976 The goat was run over with a car.

1979 The goat was burnt even before it was erected. A new one was built and fireproofed. It was destroyed and broken into pieces.

1983 The goat’s legs were destroyed.

1988 Nothing happened to the goat this year, but gamblers were able to bet on the fate of the goat.

1992 The goat was burned down eight days after it was built. The perpetrator was sent to jail. This year the Goat Committee was founded.

1996 Nothing happened. This was the first time that it was guarded by webcams.

1997 The goat got damaged by fireworks.

2001 Goat set on fire on 23 December by Lawrence Jones, a 51-year-old visitor from Cleveland, Ohio, who spent 18 days in jail and was subsequently convicted and ordered to pay 100,000 Swedish kronor in damages. The court also confiscated Jones's cigarette lighter as he clearly was not able to handle it. Jones stated in court that he is no "goat burner", and believed that he was taking part in a completely legal goat-burning tradition. After Jones was released from prison he went straight back to the US without paying his fine. It is still unpaid.

2005 The goat was burned by unknown vandals reportedly dressed as Santa and a gingerbread man by shooting a flaming arrow at the goat.

For the full timeline visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%A4vle_goat

The Yule Goat is a traditional northern European Christmas symbol. There are various origins explaining the significance of a goat, including the God Thor being transported in a chariot pulled by goats (surprising choice of animal for a God). Goats have been sacrificed at Yule and have been scary figures demanding gifts as well as being invisible, checking that Christmas preparations are being done right.

The 19th century turned the Yule Goat nicer as he became the giver of gifts, with men dressing up as Goats singing and dancing at Christmas. In old Scandinavia a popular prank was to place a small straw Yule goat in a neighbour’s house without them noticing. Once the goat was discovered the neighbour then had to pass it on in the same way. Yule goats are now a common Christmas decoration in northern Europe.

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