STOCKHOLM, Sweden. For 40 years it has been torched, vandalized, had its legs cut off and even been run over by a car. But officials in the Swedish city of Gävle are guaranteeing that this year's giant straw Christmas goat - the victim of Sweden's most violent yule tradition - will survive unscathed.
Officials think they have finally outsmarted the resourceful vandals by dousing the battered ram with flame-resistant chemicals normally used on airplanes.
Bah. Cheating. Why, oh why, do they have to ruin one of the funnest favorite Christmas traditions we have? Yes, there are those who get all worked up it and talk about vandalism, but most of us find the whole thing rather hilarious. I mean, last year the police were looking for Santa Claus and a gingerbread man, who were suspected of shooting burning arrows at the goat until it caught fire. In 2001 it was burned down by and American tourist who upon being arrested he had heard about the tradition at a party. Tell me that's not funny.
While the origins of the Christmas goat are unclear, the symbol is believed to date back to Norse mythology and the two goats that drew the carriage of Thor, the god of thunder.
Source: boston.com
I doubt that the connection to Norse mythology exists, but I suppose it might make the story more interesting. Personally I'd much rather draw inspiration from The Wicker Man and stick a crappy actor in the goat.
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