Seasons greetings, Its that time of year...........
You have probably never heard of the Gävle Goat but between now and new year I hope you will keep an eye on him and see that he comes to no harm
The Gävle Goat (known in Swedish as the Julbocken i Gävle or Gävlebocken) is a giant version of a traditional Swedish Yule Goat figure made of straw that is located at Slottstorget ("Castle Square") in central Gävle. It is erected each year by a local association called the Southern Merchants, and another version is erected by a group of students from the Natural Science Club of the School of Vasa. The Natural Science Club's goat holds the world record for the largest Yule Goat, but since 1994 the Southern Merchants' goats have been larger and had more publicity afforded them. Both goats have famously been the targets of frequent arson attacks and vandalism, so much so that over the years they have been guarded by the police, webcams, soldiers, volunteers and dogs; whilst the city officially discourages the attacks on the goats, those attacks have brought it recognition and tourism from around the world.
History of the Goat
History
In 1967 the goat was left unmolested.
In 1968 the goat was again left unmolested.
In 1969 the goat was burned on New Year's Eve.
In 1970 the first goat burned six hours after it was erected. Two heavily intoxicated youths were tied to the crime. With contributions from several donors, the goat was rebuilt, this time of reeds.
In 1971 the local merchants who had previously built the goat abandoned the project, tired of seeing it burn each year. The science association at the Vasaskolan upper secondary school took over. Their little goat was broken to pieces.
In 1972 the goat collapsed due to sabotage.
In 1973 the goat's fate is unknown.
In 1974 the goat burned down.
In 1975 the goat's fate is unknown.
In 1976 a car crashed into the goat.
In 1977 the goat's fate is unknown.
In 1978 the goat was broken to pieces again.
In 1979 the goat was burned before it was even put together. A new one was built and treated with fire-proofing, but was later sabotaged and broken to pieces.
In 1980 the goat burned down on Christmas Eve.
In 1981 the goat was spared.
In 1982 the goat burned down on St. Lucia Day, 13 December.
In 1983 the goat's legs were broken off.
In 1984 the goat burned down on St. Lucia Eve.
In 1985 the 12.5-metre high goat first made the Guinness Book of World Records. Burned down in January.
In 1986 the local merchants took over building the goat again. From this date on, two goats are built each year, one by the merchants and one by Vasaskolan. The big goat was burned down the night before Christmas Eve.
In 1987 the goat was carefully treated with fire-proofing. It still burned down the week before Christmas.
In 1988 the goat was spared. Its survival was now included on British betting lists.
In 1989 the goat burned down before it was even built. A public collection was taken up and a new goat was built, which burned down in January. In March 1990 another goat was built for the premiere of the film "Black Jack".
In 1990 the goat was spared. Many volunteers guarded it.
In 1991 the goat was accompanied by an advertising sleigh - which turned out to be an unauthorised construction. It burned on Christmas Eve morning. It was rebuilt to be sent to Stockholm in a campaign to stop the closing of the I 14 regiment.
In 1992 the goat burned after eight days. The Vasaskolan goat burned the same night. It was built again, but burned again on 20 December. The starter of all three fires was arrested.
In 1993 the Vasaskolan goat made the Guinness Book of World Records, measuring 16 metres high. It was spared this year.
In 1994 the goat was spared.
In 1995 the goat burned down on Christmas Day morning. It was rebuilt for the town's 550th anniversary.
In 1996 the goat survived. For the first time it was monitored by a web camera.
In 1997 the goat survived with minimal damage by fireworks.
In 1998 the goat burned on 11 December, despite a snowstorm. It was built again.
In 1999 the goat burned a few hours after being built. A new one was in place for St. Lucia Day.
In 2000 the goat burned a few days before New Year's. In 2001 the goat burned on 23 December. The starter of the fire, a 51-year-old man from USA, was arrested.
In 2002 the goat survived.
In 2003 the goat burned down two nights before St. Lucia Eve. A new goat was in place about a week later and it survived in one piece.
In 2004 the goat burned down on 21 December, three days before Christmas. The goat was not rebuilt.
In 2005 the goat burned down on 3 December. A new goat was in place on 8 december and managed to survive.
In 2006 the goat survived a pyromaniac attack on December 15th. It was minor burned on its right leg. After that the goat survived in one piece.
In 2007 The goat was impregnated with flame retardant chemicals and was not attacked by arsonists.
In 2008 was the goat not impregnated with flame retardant chemicals. The straw was delivered by Mackmyra Whiskey and the goat was burned down on 27 December.
http://www.merjuligavle.se/English/VISIT-GAVLE/THE-CHRISTMAS-GOAT/Web-cam/http://www.merjuligavle.se/English/VISIT-GAVLE/THE-CHRISTMAS-GOAT/Web-cam-2/Imagine my shock last year when I logged on and saw a black skeleton of the Goat! :'(
This thread is for people to report any suspicious activity or even better someone may actually be lucky enough to witness history in the making when the goat is either beaten to death or set on fire
