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| SCREENSHOT: Fire started near the hind end and spread in seconds |
By Will Collette
Sad news from Sweden:
"Här brinner bocken upp"
It was only days ago that I suggested that we look to Sweden for a way to resolve our annual battle between right-wingnuts who think everyone else is engaged in a "War on Christmas" and my left-wing friends who really don't have that much of a problem with that.
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| Despite valiant efforts by first responders, the goat was a goner |
In Sweden, they have the tradition of a 40-foot tall Christmas Goat or "Gavlebocken" erected in the town of Gavle. During this time of year, the town divides into two factions - one wants to protect the goat through the holidays and the other wants to trash the goat. The factions battle it out until either Christmas comes or the goat gets trashed, whichever comes first. There are rumors that betting might be involved.
Most years, the goat gets trashed. Since this ancient tradition was started in 1966, 28 out of 45 goats have been torched.
This year was no different, as the Goat went up in flames the night before last. Thursday night, firefighters arrived at the scene in minutes, but could not save the goat
This year's destruction of the Gavlebocken comes pretty early in the season, leaving us to speculate what the residents of Gavle will do, now that they don't have the annual Gavlebocken conflict to amuse themselves.
As Dave Barry often observes, there may be alcohol involved.
Here's a 2005 video of a Gavlebocken roast:
Most years, the goat gets trashed. Since this ancient tradition was started in 1966, 28 out of 45 goats have been torched.
This year was no different, as the Goat went up in flames the night before last. Thursday night, firefighters arrived at the scene in minutes, but could not save the goat
This year's destruction of the Gavlebocken comes pretty early in the season, leaving us to speculate what the residents of Gavle will do, now that they don't have the annual Gavlebocken conflict to amuse themselves.
As Dave Barry often observes, there may be alcohol involved.
Here's a 2005 video of a Gavlebocken roast: