Sweden

The Gävle Goat Goes Up in Flames

Well, that was quick.

Last week, we brought you the story of Sweden’s Gävle Goat. The 42-foot-high straw goat is a beloved Christmas tradition in the town of Gävle, drawing thousands of visitors annually. The Gävle Goat also has a fiery history – it’s often burned down by arsonists.

This year’s goat lasted less than 24 hours.

2016 marked the goat’s 50^th anniversary, and town officials attempted extra measures to keep the goat secure, including a guard and video surveillance. Mashable reports that when a guard took a bathroom break, the Gävle Goat went up in flames.

Perhaps Twitter user @aleq_andro sums it up best:

The yule goat is dead, long live the goat. ’till next year @Gavlebocken #RIP

— Alejandro AisMar (@aleq_andro) November 28, 2016

Here’s to a flame-free 2017.