R.I.P. The Gavle Goat once again meets a fiery fate

Rival to Charlestown’s New Year’s Eve bonfire makes it past Christmas, but not until the end of the season

By Will Collette

The Associated Press reports that the wonderful icon of Gavle, Sweden, its famed Gavelbocken or Gavle Goat, was destroyed by an arsonist.

The Goat has been erected every year for almost 50 years – a huge construction of sticks and straw – in the town square during the Christmas. 

Supposedly, the goat was featured in ancient lore as the bringer of gifts before there was a Santa Claus and the town decided to revive the tradition half a century ago in 1966.

In recent years, the Gavle Goat had its own website, blog, Twitter feed and live webcam. The webcam was part of its security system.

Despite being a symbol of civic pride (and guarded in many different ways), in most years, the Goat is destroyed, usually by fire and usually before Christmas, in an undeclared running feud between the pro-Goat and anti-Goat factions in Gavle.

Imagine what we could do with something like that here in Charlestown.

This year’s alleged culprit is a 25-year old man who was arrested by police, drunk out of his mind, disguised with a balaclava with clothing reeking of lighter fluid.

According to the AP account, he will be questioned and probably charged when he sobers up.

Progressive Charlestown has been following the Gavle Goat follies for the past several years.