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The Gavle Sweden Christmas Goat (Julbocken) Has Burned.
http://www.merjuligavle.se/Bocken/Bockenkamera/ ^ | 12/02/2011 | NA

Posted on 12/01/2011 10:23:08 PM PST by prisoner6

How sad! This is one of the earliest burns I recall. Here is a link to an updating picture.

JULBOCKEN Camera

Here is a stock photo of the Julbocken.



TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Society
KEYWORDS: christmas; gavle; goat
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No word yet on if it will be rebuilt. What a shame if it isn't!

It lasted only a couple of days.

1 posted on 12/01/2011 10:23:13 PM PST by prisoner6
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To: prisoner6

Whats the point? You posted this like we have some kind of idea just what the heck this is and have an interest in it. Could you give us some background on why this is important?


2 posted on 12/01/2011 10:28:21 PM PST by lefty-lie-spy (Stay metal. For the Horde \m/("_")\m/ - via iPhone from Tokyo.)
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To: Charles Henrickson

FYI and Do you still have the ping list?


3 posted on 12/01/2011 10:28:32 PM PST by prisoner6 (Right Wing Nuts bolt The Constitution together as the loose screws of the Left fall out!)
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To: lefty-lie-spy
It's a Swedish tradition and the folks on the Swedish ping list will probably be interested. Someone from the list usually posts links to when it is built.

As far as background if you follow the link it's all explained there. Oh what the hey, here yunz go.

The biggest Christmas Goat in the world

The strange history of the Gävle Goat began in 1966. A man named Stig Gavlén came up with the idea of making a giant version of the traditional Swedish Christmas goat of straw. The aim was to attract customers to the the shops and restaurants in the southern part of the town centre.

On 2 December the 13-metre (42,6 feet) tall, 7-metre long, 3 tonne goat stood on the square. At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, the goat went up in smoke. The perpetrator was found and charged with vandalism. The Gävle Goat has been burned down 24 times since then.

For more follow the link and look around.

4 posted on 12/01/2011 10:33:59 PM PST by prisoner6 (Right Wing Nuts bolt The Constitution together as the loose screws of the Left fall out!)
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To: lefty-lie-spy

I just recorded several George Thorogood mp3s from Youtube. Merry Christmas.


5 posted on 12/01/2011 10:34:49 PM PST by steve86 (Acerbic by nature, not nurture (Could be worst in 40 years))
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To: prisoner6
Oh, yes. This brings back such great holiday memories of this time of year. I remember the family ritual of burning the Pillsbury Dough Boy each winter equinox in the back yard.


6 posted on 12/01/2011 10:42:50 PM PST by garjog
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To: prisoner6

Seems like a nice tradition but I can’t help but wonder why Swedes would allow burning of a straw goat but condemn those who burn fossil fuels


7 posted on 12/01/2011 10:46:39 PM PST by He'sComingBack!
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To: He'sComingBack!; All
From the Gavle Julbocken Blog

Google translation:

Gävle Goat burned at. 2:54 at night. He had time to experience their 45 th birthday, but not a sparkling, white Christmas at the Castle Square. He did not experience their 45-year gift - to be transformed into a isbock. Ice cover would protect him against arsonists and make him uniquely beautiful. We will not build any new Gävle Goat this year, but to wish all of you who have followed him a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

So the Julbock will not be coming back this year. No messages and emails to kids and kids at heart from around the world.

Some jackwagon had to ruin it.

This will not be a very merry Christmas without him. At least for those of us with interest in Scandinavian traditions.

8 posted on 12/01/2011 11:05:54 PM PST by prisoner6 (Right Wing Nuts bolt The Constitution together as the loose screws of the Left fall out!)
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To: garjog

LOL! We usually have the ceremonial burning of the Christmas eve dinner - and sometimes other things-, especially if the tradition of the oldest son preparing plum pudding and serving it flambe’ is done!


9 posted on 12/01/2011 11:09:44 PM PST by prisoner6 (Right Wing Nuts bolt The Constitution together as the loose screws of the Left fall out!)
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To: prisoner6

I need a pic of rob schneider screaming, “Goooooooaaaaaaaaaaat” from the zohan movie.


10 posted on 12/01/2011 11:27:00 PM PST by Trillian
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To: prisoner6

OK. Now that was interesting. So they build it now with the expectation that it will be burned now? Sounds fun. I’ll have to check in with my friends in Gothenberg and Stockholm on this. Thanks.


11 posted on 12/01/2011 11:47:48 PM PST by lefty-lie-spy (Stay metal. For the Horde \m/("_")\m/ - via iPhone from Tokyo.)
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To: He'sComingBack!

Scandinavians retain a lot of goofy holiday traditions from pre-Christian times. Maybe this is a relic from some practice of sacrificing a goat to Odin on the winter solstice.


12 posted on 12/02/2011 12:36:09 AM PST by Strk321
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To: prisoner6

Interesting tradition. Perhaps Cubs fans should emulate it, and torch a giant straw goat at Wrigley Field next April. Nothing else has worked to lift the curse...


13 posted on 12/02/2011 1:18:25 AM PST by rfp1234 (RFP's Law: Whoever blames Bush first shall lose the argument.)
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To: prisoner6

I will raise a toast of glögg in honor of the poor, departed julbok. Skål!


14 posted on 12/02/2011 1:20:42 AM PST by UncleHambone ("Laughter is America's most important export." - Walt Disney)
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To: UncleHambone

skal och God Jul!


15 posted on 12/02/2011 1:44:02 AM PST by prisoner6 (Right Wing Nuts bolt The Constitution together as the loose screws of the Left fall out!)
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To: prisoner6

Please explain what good a Swedish thread is that doesn’t have any pictures of Swedish women.


16 posted on 12/02/2011 2:01:25 AM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: driftdiver
Very true! Here are a few pics of one of my favs, Sofia Jannok.

And links to a couple of her videos.

IRENE

WATERLOO

17 posted on 12/02/2011 2:24:25 AM PST by prisoner6 (Right Wing Nuts bolt The Constitution together as the loose screws of the Left fall out!)
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To: prisoner6

there ya go, well done


18 posted on 12/02/2011 4:25:00 AM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: prisoner6

There’s always some idiot who wants to ruin the fun for everyone else. A shame.


19 posted on 12/02/2011 7:47:11 AM PST by midnightcat
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To: lefty-lie-spy

I posted the link to the webcam on Facebook.


20 posted on 12/03/2011 3:06:36 AM PST by lefty-lie-spy (Stay metal. For the Horde \m/("_")\m/ - via iPhone from Tokyo.)
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