The sheer absurdity of the situation has me laughing uncontrollably.

Seriously Gävle, make the farking thing out of asbestos or not at all.

/I had my wagered day for friday. So close.

Mutten to see here, move along.

/ i kid , kid.

This is my straw goat, see?

Teknowaffle: Seriously Gävle, make the farking thing out of asbestos or not at all.

Why? Clearly this town engages in a ritualistic wooden goat sacrifice that seems to be extremely effective.

Heaven help us if the goat makes it.

No visible means of support and you have not seen nothing yet.

And with that, "The Burning Goat" festival was born...

Apos: And with that, "The Burning Goat" festivities were born reignited


FTFM

FTA: The police do not know how the arsonists managed to set fire to the goat, as the fire brigade had hosed it down earlier in the evening and it would have frozen almost instantly.

Ummm.... a propane torch would melt through the ice, dry it out, and start a fire quicker than you can say "bob's your uncle." Spray some starter fluid to get it going good, and it'll start sustaining itself.

Not that I know anything about that.

"I'm sorry to say that tonight at midnight someone couldn't keep their fingers away. I suddently woked up, It became awfully hot I noticed that I was on fire!"

"The last hour was here!"

I say this all the time.

The following is a true story.

2010. I'm meeting with a client regarding his lawsuit. This particular client is living in a homeless shelter and was hit by a car while on his bicycle. We are going over Interrogatories and I asked him about his criminal history for the last ten years. He reluctantly told me how he had been convicted for burning a straw goat in another country. Being an avid BockenCam watcher and follower, I immediately asked him about the Gavle goat. Sure enough, it was him. I have the autograph of Lawrence "Larry" Jones, Bocken Burner 2001. \O/

/As of 2010, he still owes 100,000 kroner.

I had December 23rd. Who had the 13th? Crap, I'll have to start a new office poll for next year.

FTA: Through the years it has not been burnt to the ground every year. It has also been beaten down, been run over with a car and stolen.

Run over with what? A GTO?

Burning goats? I'm more into Flaming Caribou

/Swedish Hipster

Maybe they should start building the goat out of wool. Cheap, raw wool, preferably.

Failing that, they could add some fireworks to the goat next year...

Teknowaffle: Seriously Gävle, make the farking thing out of asbestos or not at all.

Is this your straw goat argument?

"Personally, I think this is a shame. It's fun that the goat is so famous but it would also be nice if it could be left alone," he said.

Isn't the burning of the goat technically what made it famous?

I bet it was burned down by Nicolas Cage while he wore a cage full of bees on his head.

Also...

Dear Drew: please replace the default text on links ("Link") with "CLICK HERE FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BURNING GOAT" Pleasepleasepleaseplease. It's the best non-prurient clickbait I've seen in years.

He was all "put up your dukes" I'm a goat I got no farking dikes.

FTF slideshow that doesn't include one picture of the "burning goat" actually burning: No one knows what happened to the Christmas goats of 1975 and 1977.

The Burning Goat project was our last, best, hope for peace.

Possible suspect?


/just asking questions

Man, I dunno I remeber when Burning Goat was about the ART , maaan, and the Fire, now it's all trustafarians and hipsters trying too hard to be ironic, it was way better last year...

skinink

I bet it was burned down by Nicolas Cage while he wore a cage full of bees on his head.


Yo dawg, I heard you like cage...

Jclark666: FTF slideshow that doesn't include one picture of the "burning goat" actually burning: No one knows what happened to the Christmas goats of 1975 and 1977.

The Burning Goat project was our last, best, hope for peace.

Zathras knows what happened, but nobody listens to Zathras

Damn, what were they smoking?

John_David_Stutts: FTA: Through the years it has not been burnt to the ground every year. It has also been beaten down, been run over with a car and stolen.

Run over with what? A GTO?

Old Fart detected.

What an intentionally ignited effigy of livestock may look like:

People are dicks.

Sounds like they might want to make two every year..

Somaticasual: Sounds like they might want to make two every year..

They do. And they often both get burned. Link

Accepting the absurdity of it, I am still confused how something encased in ice manages to burn down. Even if the ices melts, you still have wet straw. I believe that Hermes would say, "That just raises further questions"!

AmazinTim: Somaticasual: Sounds like they might want to make two every year..

They do. And they often both get burned. Link

Ha. That's just cruel then, but it is almost comical in a "those pesky kids.." fashion. Appreciate the link - the timeline is amusing as hell. It sounds like it's the holy grail for vandals - 2010's attempted theft by helicopter is great. Likewise with 2005's "flaming arrows sent from santa" attack. That makes just burning the thing down sound downright amateur.

// "In 1967, nothing happened"

The list of what has happened to previous goats is one of the best things I've read in a while. Some of the highlights...

1971- Goat kicked to pieces
1972- Goat's construction was sabotaged
1976- Goat was hit by car
1985- Burned down despite being guarded by the 14 Infantry Regiment
1987- Heavily fireproofed goat, still burnt down
1998- Burnt down during a blizzard
2005- Burnt by unknown vandals dressed as Santa and the gingerbread man, by shooting a flaming arrow at the goat
2006- Goat survived fire. It is now stored in a secret location
2009- Goat was thrown in river. Backup goat was loaded onto a truck and stolen

My favorite Christmas tradition.

2005! 2005! 2005!

=]

Build publicity goat...
Get no publicity.
Burn publicity goat...
Get world-wide publicity.

I think I see what's going on.

TFA: The goat expressed its regret at missing Christmas, but promised to be back strong again for the 47th time next year.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to call bullshiat on that quote.

/journalism, indeed

Next year, they will make the goat out of stronger, more durable wood. If that doesn't work, may I suggest brick?

"Have you considered using steel?"

Sorry about the goat.

On to the "Weekend's Finest"!

To The Escape Zeppelin!: The list of what has happened to previous goats is one of the best things I've read in a while. Some of the highlights...

The goats of Christmas past.

I wish there was a website dedicated to this Swedish goat. I wish I could think of an appropriate domain name.

Well, they are upset every year it burns, but the press they get for the thing burning has been estimated to be in the millions...

On the case

TheOther: John_David_Stutts: FTA: Through the years it has not been burnt to the ground every year. It has also been beaten down, been run over with a car and stolen.

Run over with what? A GTO?

Old Fart detected.

I thought the fart was on the little imports the kids drive?

Is this regarded as a hayt crime?

If the culprits are caught, I wonder if they'll post bale.

You've got to be kidding.

/actually OK with the crispy ex-goat effigy. Seems...festive.

highendmighty: People are dicks.

You'd probably think that if you DRTFA. But it really does appear that they build the thing every year, and wonder how and when it will get burned to the ground. It's like a tradition. May be strange. But most traditions are.

Look at it this way... If they really wanted to make sure it didn't get burnt up, don't you think they would try to protect it.

I think it's almost like a game among the locals to see who will be the one to get away with it THIS year.