BetterMost, Wyoming & Brokeback Mountain Forum
Our BetterMost Community => The Holiday Forum => Topic started by: Aloysius J. Gleek on December 28, 2008, 04:28:33 pm
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28399341/ (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28399341/)
Christmas straw goat burned again in Sweden
43-foot-high symbol has been targeted repeatedly by vandals since 1966
(http://www.elizabethtravels.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/goat-2.jpg)
(http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:abxr0jPUeOdIXM:http://buffetoblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/swedish_christmas_goat_on_fire.png)
(http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Sources/Art/APTRANS.gif)
updated 2:00 p.m. ET, Sat., Dec. 27, 2008
STOCKHOLM, Sweden - A giant Christmas straw goat that has been targeted in a violent Christmas tradition for four decades in Sweden was burned down yet again on Saturday, an official said.
"It was set on fire early in the morning; it's very sad," goat committee spokeswoman Anna Ostman said. "People from 105 countries have followed the goat via the Web cams and many become really sad when they learn that he's burned down. We have heard from a lot of people, including the United States."
Vandals have burned the 43-foot-high goat 23 times since it was first set up in the central Swedish city of Gavle on Dec. 3, 1966, to mark the holiday season.
The traditional yuletide goat has also been smashed several times, run over by a car and had its legs cut off.
A year ago the goat made it through the holiday season.
Vandals are seldom caught, but in 2001, the goat was set on fire by a 51-year-old visitor from Cleveland, Ohio, who was convicted and spent 18 days in jail.
In 2005, the goat was burned down by two arsonists dressed up as Santa Claus and the Gingerbread Man. They were never caught.
Authorities in Gavle have tried to protect the goat using fireproofing chemicals and security guards. But only 10 of the goats have survived beyond Christmas since 1966.
The goat is a centuries-old Scandinavian yule symbol that preceded Santa Claus as the bringer of gifts to Swedish homes. Many Swedes place a small straw goat underneath their Christmas trees, or hang miniature versions on the branches.
(http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/noel/imatges/goat.jpg)
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Never heard of this before, but there's plenty to Google about it. Here's the webcam
http://www.merjuligavle.se/Bocken
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Oh that poor goat. Same thing every year. I think they keep on rebuilding it because by now it has become almost a gimick.
In the beginning people got really upset about it, but by now I think most people just shrug their shoulders when hearing that it´s gone up in flames once more
My theory is that it´s the town mayor himself who is behind it :laugh:
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My theory is that it´s the town mayor himself who is behind it :laugh:
I was wondering something like this. I mean - nearly every year?
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"It was set on fire early in the morning; it's very sad," goat committee spokeswoman Anna Ostman said.
I think BBM members should have titles like that.
Sheep Co-ordination Committee Assistant.
Mule Reception Committee Host.
Bear Despoiled Supply Retrieval Team.
;D
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I think BBM members should have titles like that.
Sheep Co-ordination Committee Assistant.
Mule Reception Committee Host.
Bear Despoiled Supply Retrieval Team.
;D
;D :laugh: ;D :laugh:
we should have business cards printed
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Ellemeno, Dumbass Team Mascot