The Swedish city of Gävle observes an unusual Christmas tradition: a 13-metre straw goat has been erected in the town square every December since 1966. The Gävle Goat is best known for burning down. A ...

Atlas Obscura on Slate is a blog about the world's hidden wonders. Like us on Facebook, Tumblr, or follow us on Twitter @atlasobscura. At this time of year, the residents of Gävle, Sweden have one big ...

"The Gävle Goat lives a dangerous life," says Maria Wallberg, his spokesperson. "But we are full of hope that he will survive this year." Wallberg is on the committee that oversees the construction of ...

In the Swedish town of Gävle, there is a large goat made of straw. For nearly 50 years, the people of Gävle have erected the 13-metre goat in the town's main square. It's become a Christmas tradition ...

In Gävle, Sweden, nothing says “Christmas” like the sight of a four-ton straw goat overlooking the town square. Too bad some jerk usually comes along and lights it on fire. The first Gävle Goat was ...

Since the 1960s, the city of Gävle in Sweden has annually built a towering Yule goat, and almost every year someone burns it down. Charred remains of the Natural Science Club’s Yule Goat, with the ...

Two mysterious men attempted to bribe a guard to leave his post watching over the giant goat in Gävle in eastern Sweden in an attempt to kidnap the iconic Christmas symbol using a helicopter. The two ...

Despite vandals managing to get to some of its smaller cousins the traditional Gävle goat has managed to survive until Christmas. Since 1966 it has been a tradition in Gävle in eastern Sweden to build ...

On Nov. 27, the 2016 Gävle goat was burned to the ground just hours after a party in its honour. Gävle goat spokesperson Maria Wallberg says she hopes another straw goat will be built before Christmas ...