Swedish town's fire-prone Christmas goat survives, but 'little brother' burns
The so-called 'Gävle goat' has frequently been targeted by vandals during its 53-year history
A fire-prone straw goat in Gävle, Sweden, beat the odds by surviving its third Christmas in a row — but its smaller sibling wasn't so lucky.
In the early hours of Friday, the little goat that accompanies the larger Gävle goat was set ablaze. It is a little burned, but still standing. An inebriated man was taken into police custody, local newspaper Gefle Dagblad reports.
"The Gävle's little brother ... was attacked last night and set on fire," Maria Wallberg, the Gävle goat spokesperson, told As It Happens guest host Helen Mann. "But he is safe."
Every Christmas season, the town of Gävle erects a giant "Swedish Yule Goat" figure in its town square. It's a popular target for vandals. During its 53-year-history, the goat has only survived unscathed about 15 times.
That's why As It Happens checks in on the Gävle goat every year.
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It's unclear how the controversial tradition of attacking the Gävle goat started.
It was once destroyed with a flaming arrow by vandals dressed as Santa and the gingerbread man. There was also an attempt to abduct it with a helicopter in 2010.
Wallberg told As It Happens in 2018 that part of the reason the goat is so popular is due to the creative ways vandals have destroyed it.
"It's amazing that the Gävle goat has so many fans around the world. There are 120,000 people that watch it on the livecam from 120 countries — and that's every year," she said at the time.
Small goat burns for 2nd year
This year marks the second in a row that the small Yule goat, which is built each year by students at the Natural Science Club of the School of Vasa, has been burned.
"I'm glad that the giant goat is still standing," Wallberg said. "But it's always sad when they get to our goats."
Wallberg credits increased security, a 24-hour camera and heightened fences with protecting the Gävle goat.
The small goat is placed away from the main goat, which means it is under less surveillance.
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Now Wallberg and the rest of the Gävle goat's fans will wait with bated breath to see if it will survive until it is taken down in the new year.
"I hope that maybe he can be left alone now and be the great Christmas tradition that he is," Wallberg said.
Written by Sarah Jackson. Produced by Samantha Lui.