I’m feeling a bit cold today and thinking of ways to warm up, so of course my thoughts are turning toward the giant straw Christmas goat that sits in the city of Gävle.
When Will the Gävle Christmas Goat Burn?
As I’ve written on this blog before, in the city of Gävle, about 2 hours north of Stockholm, a giant straw goat has been built in the town square to celebrate Christmas since 1966. Since then, people have tried to burn or destroy it almost every year. At this point, we all secretly want it to burn just to add another burning to the list, but security the past few years around the goat is probably higher than it is for anything else in Sweden.
Some foreign news outlets have dubbed the Gävleboken (Gävle Christmas Goat), Sweden’s Arson Goat. This is a name of which I very much approve, mostly for tourist and meme reasons.
Is the Gävle Goat Still Standing This Year?
So, in thinking of ways to get warm today, my mind turned toward the Gävle goat and I wondered if anyone had burned it down yet. Turns out, it’s still standing. But for anyone else who might want to keep an eye out, there is a live camera set up so you can check for yourself.
Yes, you can keep tabs on this goat from anywhere in the world! Thanks to a live webcam set up right at the town square, you can watch the giant straw goat in real-time and see if it survives another year or meets its fiery fate.
This webcam has become a holiday tradition of its own. People tune in from all over, hoping to catch a glimpse of the goat standing proudly, or maybe even witnessing an arson attempt. The live stream gives you a front-row seat to all the action, making it easier than ever to stay updated on the Gävle Goat’s condition without the cold trek to northern Sweden.
(For legal reasons, I should probably mention that it is illegal to burn the goat. But feel free to buy a small souvenir goat made out of straw and burn it in the privacy of your own grill.)
What Does the Future Hold for the Gävle Christmas Goat?
What are your opinions on the fate of the Gävle Christmas Goat? Do you root for the Gävle Goat to stand tall or hope it meet its fiery fate yet again? I, for one, find it fascinating that year after year, the goat’s battle with arsonists and holiday spirit continues, keeping us all on edge.
So if you’re looking for something to do while bored at work this Christmas, maybe check in on the live camera in Gävle to see if the goat gets a chance to make it through another Christmas. Just don’t get any ideas about taking matters into your own hands. As I’ve said before – burning the goat is illegal. You’ve been warned!