JCC Gävle Goat Watch 2015

Happy Times with the Gävle Goat

You have probably never heard of the Gävle Goat, but now I wish to share my Yuletide passion with everyone. Between December 1st and the new year I hope you will keep an eye on him and see that he comes to no harm. I am posting this a few weeks early to allow the excitement and anticipation to build, and to have somewhere we can all release it.

The Gävle Goat (known in Swedish as the Julbocken i Gävle or Gävlebocken) is a giant version of a traditional Swedish Yule Goat figure made of straw that is located at Slottstorget ("Castle Square") in central Gävle. It is erected each year by a local association called the Southern Merchants, and another version is erected by a group of students from the Natural Science Club of the School of Vasa. The Natural Science Club's goat holds the world record for the largest Yule Goat, but since 1994 the Southern Merchants' goats have been larger and had more publicity afforded them. Both goats have famously been the targets of frequent arson attacks and vandalism, so much so that over the years they have been guarded by the police, webcams, soldiers, volunteers and dogs; whilst the city officially discourages the attacks on the goats, those attacks have brought it recognition and tourism from around the world.


Sadder Times for the Gävle Goat

History of the Goat

In 1967 the goat was left unmolested.

In 1968 the goat was again left unmolested.

In 1969 the goat was burned on New Year's Eve.

In 1970 the first goat burned six hours after it was erected. Two heavily intoxicated youths were tied to the crime. With contributions from several donors, the goat was rebuilt, this time of reeds.

In 1971 the local merchants who had previously built the goat abandoned the project, tired of seeing it burn each year. The science association at the Vasaskolan upper secondary school took over. Their little goat was broken to pieces.

In 1972 the goat collapsed due to sabotage.

In 1973 the goat's fate is unknown.

In 1974 the goat burned down.

In 1975 the goat's fate is unknown.

In 1976 a car crashed into the goat.

In 1977 the goat's fate is unknown.

In 1978 the goat was broken to pieces again.

In 1979 the goat was burned before it was even put together. A new one was built and treated with fire-proofing, but was later sabotaged and broken to pieces.

In 1980 the goat burned down on Christmas Eve.

In 1981 the goat was spared.

In 1982 the goat burned down on St. Lucia Day, 13 December.

In 1983 the goat's legs were broken off.

In 1984 the goat burned down on St. Lucia Eve.

In 1985 the 12.5-metre high goat first made the Guinness Book of World Records. Burned down in January.

In 1986 the local merchants took over building the goat again. From this date on, two goats are built each year, one by the merchants and one by Vasaskolan. The big goat was burned down the night before Christmas Eve.

In 1987 the goat was carefully treated with fire-proofing. It still burned down the week before Christmas.

In 1988 the goat was spared. Its survival was now included on British betting lists.

In 1989 the goat burned down before it was even built. A public collection was taken up and a new goat was built, which burned down in January. In March 1990 another goat was built for the premiere of the film "Black Jack".

In 1990 the goat was spared. Many volunteers guarded it.

In 1991 the goat was accompanied by an advertising sleigh - which turned out to be an unauthorised construction. It burned on Christmas Eve morning. It was rebuilt to be sent to Stockholm in a campaign to stop the closing of the I 14 regiment.

In 1992 the goat burned after eight days. The Vasaskolan goat burned the same night. It was built again, but burned again on 20 December. The starter of all three fires was arrested.

In 1993 the Vasaskolan goat made the Guinness Book of World Records, measuring 16 metres high. It was spared this year.

In 1994 the goat was spared.

In 1995 the goat burned down on Christmas Day morning. It was rebuilt for the town's 550th anniversary.

In 1996 the goat survived. For the first time it was monitored by a web camera.

In 1997 the goat survived with minimal damage by fireworks.

In 1998 the goat burned on 11 December, despite a snowstorm. It was built again.

In 1999 the goat burned a few hours after being built. A new one was in place for St. Lucia Day.

In 2000 the goat burned a few days before New Year's. In 2001 the goat burned on 23 December. The starter of the fire, a 51-year-old man from USA, was arrested.

In 2002 the goat survived.

In 2003 the goat burned down two nights before St. Lucia Eve. A new goat was in place about a week later and it survived in one piece.

In 2004 the goat burned down on 21 December, three days before Christmas. The goat was not rebuilt.

In 2005 the goat burned down on 3 December. A new goat was in place on 8 december and managed to survive.

In 2006 the goat survived a pyromaniac attack on December 15th. It was minor burned on its right leg. After that the goat survived in one piece.

In 2007 The goat was impregnated with flame retardant chemicals and was not attacked by arsonists.

In 2008 was the goat not impregnated with flame retardant chemicals. The straw was delivered by Mackmyra Whiskey and the goat was burned down on 27 December.

In 2009 A person attempted to set the Southern Merchants' goat on fire the night of 7 December. An unsuccessful attempt was made to throw the Natural Science Club's goat into the river the weekend of 11 December. The culprit then tried, again without success, to set the goat on fire. Someone stole the Natural Science Club's goat using a truck on the night of 14 December. On the night of 23 December before 04:00 the South Merchant goat was set on fire and was burned to the frame, even though it had a thick layer of snow on its back. The goat had two online webcams which were put out of service by a DoS attack, instigated by computer hackers just before the burning.

In 2010 On the night of 2 December, arsonists made an unsuccessful attempt to burn the Natural Science Club's goat.On 17 December, a Swedish news site reported that one of the guards tasked with protecting the Southern Merchants' goat had been offered payment to leave his post so that the goat could be stolen via helicopter and transported to Stockholm. Both goats survived and were dismantled and returned to storage in early January 2011.

In 2011 The inauguration of the goat took place on 27 November. The fire-fighters of Gävle sprayed the goat with water to create a coating of ice in the hope of protecting it from arson. However mild weather melted the ice and the goat was burnt down in the early morning of 2 December.

In 2012 The inauguration of the goat took place on 2 December. It was burnt just ten days later in the hours before midnight of 12 December, one day before Lucia.

Knaves commemorating their evil-doing.

In 2013 As in 2006 and 2007, the straw used to build the goat has been soaked in anti-flammable liquid to prevent it from burning in the event of an arson attack. The inauguration ceremony took place on 1 December. On 21 December the goat was burned down.
In 2014 At least three attempts of arson were made, but the goat survived, and was dismantled on 29 December. It was sent to China, where it featured in the Year of the Goat celebrations in February 2015.

In prep for the big launch, here are links that should show live webcam feeds in the next few weeks. Stay vigilant!

http://www.merjuligavle.se/English/VISIT-GAVLE/THE-CHRISTMAS-GOAT/Web-cam/

http://www.merjuligavle.se/English/VISIT-GAVLE/THE-CHRISTMAS-GOAT/Web-cam-2/

Imagine my shock in 2013 when I logged on and saw a black skeleton of the Goat!

This thread is for people to report any suspicious activity or even better someone may actually be lucky enough to witness history in the making when the goat is either beaten to death or set on fire.


And should the worst happen, the thing none of us wants, we may as well have a winner. So pick your date.

December
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10. Diggy
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31.

 

One of the finest Swedish traditions .

December 19th for me please.

 

So what I gathered is that it's notable when a goat goes unmolested in Sweden.

 

Copy and paste the list and add your name, friend.

 

Right! Here we go then:

December
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6.
7.
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10. Diggy
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19. emilsson
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31.

 

I foresee this will be the longest-lived Gavlegoat of all. They'll actually re-use this year's goat next year.

 

December
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. Diggy
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16. SuperWatto (watching the new Star Wars movie before you do)
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19. emilsson
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21.
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27.
28.
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31.

 

December
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9.
10. Diggy
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16. SuperWatto (watching the new Star Wars movie before you do)
17.
18.
19. emilsson
20.
21.
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23. Coruscant
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31.

 

December
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10. Diggy
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12. ophelia
13. Obi Anne
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16. SuperWatto (watching the new Star Wars movie before you do)
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18.
19. emilsson
20. Darth Punk
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23. Coruscant
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31.

 

December
1.
2.
3.
4.
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9.
10. Diggy
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16. SuperWatto (watching the new Star Wars movie before you do)
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18.
19. emilsson
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23. Coruscant
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25. Fatburt
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I'd hate to witness "The Wicker Goat" scenario.

December
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5. Jabbadabbado
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10. Diggy
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16. SuperWatto (watching the new Star Wars movie before you do)
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18.
19. emilsson
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21.
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23. Coruscant
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25. Fatburt
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i've been trying to warn you guys about sweden for ages

 

I'll take 30.12.2015.

 

GAVIN EDIT: if you want to be on the list, copy and paste the previous list and add your name; essentially if you're names not down, you're not coming in.

 

December
1.
2.
3.
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5. Jabbadabbado
6.
7. Point Given
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10. Diggy
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12. ophelia
13. Obi Anne
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14.
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16. SuperWatto (watching the new Star Wars movie before you do)
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18. HealerLeona - everyone will be at the theaters watching TFA, perfect time to burn!
19. emilsson
20.
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22. darth_gersh
23. Coruscant
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25. Fatburt
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December
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. Jabbadabbado
6.
7. Point Given
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9.
10. Diggy
11.
12. ophelia
13. Obi Anne
13.
14.
15.
16. SuperWatto (watching the new Star Wars movie before you do)
17.
18. HealerLeona - everyone will be at the theaters watching TFA, perfect time to burn!
19. emilsson
20.
21.
22. darth_gersh
23. Coruscant
24. TTT
25. Fatburt
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27.
28.
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31.

 

8. KissMeImaRebel

 

December
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. Jabbadabbado
6. Gamiel
7. Point Given
8.
9.
10. Diggy
11.
12. ophelia
13. Obi Anne
13.
14.
15.
16. SuperWatto (watching the new Star Wars movie before you do)
17.
18. HealerLeona - everyone will be at the theaters watching TFA, perfect time to burn!
19. emilsson
20.
21.
22. darth_gersh
23. Coruscant
24. TTT
25. Fatburt
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.

 

December
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. Jabbadabbado
6. Gamiel
7. Point Given
8.
9.
10. Diggy
11.
12. ophelia
13. Obi Anne
13.
14. Shira
15.
16. SuperWatto (watching the new Star Wars movie before you do)
17.
18. HealerLeona - everyone will be at the theaters watching TFA, perfect time to burn!
19. emilsson
20.
21.
22. darth_gersh
23. Coruscant
24. TTT
25. Fatburt
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.

 

December
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. Jabbadabbado
6. Gamiel
7. Point Given
8.
9.
10. Diggy
11.
12. ophelia
13. Obi Anne
13.
14. Shira
15.
16. SuperWatto (watching the new Star Wars movie before you do)
17.
18. HealerLeona - everyone will be at the theaters watching TFA, perfect time to burn!
19. emilsson
20.
21.
22. darth_gersh
23. Coruscant
24. TTT
25. Fatburt
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27.
28.
29.
30. Sith Sensei Prime
31.