The Gävle Goat (Gävlebocken) for 2013 unveiled today

Will it make it all the way to Christmas?

The newly erected Gävle goat

By Will Collette

This will be the third year that Progressive Charlestown has monitored the health and well-being of the Gävle Goat (called “Gävlebocken” in Swedish). This enormous wood and straw goat has been erected in the town square of Gävle, Sweden since 1966, much the way that every year in Charlestown, Frank Glista erected a huge bonfire for Charlestown’s New Year’s Eve celebration.

In Gävle, the town divides into two factions, with one faction intent on celebrating the goat through Christmas and the other faction intent on destruction. Again, the resemblance to Charlestown is uncanny.

In most years, the destruction faction wins and burns down the goat. Last year, the goat was smoked after only 12 days.

This year, the goat-builders are trying a couple of new wrinkles by slightly changing the building materials, but more significantly, dousing the wood and straw with flame retardants.

Last year's Charlestown bon fire at Ninigret Park

Some locals are complaining about the use of the chemicals, arguing that on the two prior occasions (2006 and 2007) fire retardants were used, the goat survived but turned an ugly, darker shade.

As we have the last two years, we’ll be monitoring the life, and perhaps death, of the Gävlebocken either all the way to its triumphant Christmas, or its untimely demise. The goat also has its own blog.

And let’s not forget that New Year’s Eve treat, Charlestown’s annual New Year’s Eve bonfire. I’ve heard rumors that Frank Glista plans to make this year’s pyre into the shape of an antique Porsche.

Last year's bonfire even created some mini-tornadoes (intense heat plus
snow on the ground)

Last year, some anonymous spoilsport complained to the state Department of Environmental Management about the bonfire and – for a while – this year’s bonfire was in doubt when DEM ordered Charlestown to stop doing the bonfires. 

However, Rep. Donna Walsh intervened and convinced DEM that the bonfire was not, as charged, an illegal municipal garbage fire, but an exempt celebration. I’m not making any of this up.

The only person who publicly groused about the bonfire was the CCA Party pundit Mikey Chambers. The person who filed the anonymous complaint with DEM has not been identified, so you’re left to consider the most likely candidates.