About The Gavle Goat

The Name and What It Means
The Gävlebocken, or Gavle Goat, is a large straw figure that has become a well-known symbol of Christmas in Sweden. The name "Gävlebocken" comes from the Swedish word "bock," which means "goat," and it represents the city of Gävle, where it has stood for many years.

What It’s Made Of
The Gävlebocken is made out of straw and stands several meters tall. It’s decorated with red ribbons and placed in the center of Gävle’s Castle Square as part of the city’s Christmas decorations.

When It Was First Built
The first Gävlebocken was built on December 1, 1966. It was created as a part of a Christmas tradition to bring people to the city and celebrate the holiday season. The Gavle Goat has been traditionally placed (with a few exceptions) in the historical place Slottstorget, south of Gavleån, the river that runs through the city, since its creation in 1966. Stortorget is a location deeply connected to its story and annual tradition.

The First Time It Was Burned
The first time the Gävlebocken was set on fire was also in 1966, the same year it was built. Since then, the goat has been burned several times, often by people who wanted to cause trouble or make a statement. The burning of the goat has become a part of its story.

Why It Burns Sometimes
The reason the Gävlebocken burns sometimes is that people sometimes set it on fire, either for fun or as a protest. Despite the city’s efforts to protect it, the goat has been burned many times over the years, sometimes just days after being set up. This makes the fate of the goat unpredictable, adding to the excitement and interest in it.

Betting on the Goat's Fate
Every year, people around the world bet on whether the Gävlebocken will survive or be burned down. This has made it even more interesting to follow and has drawn attention from people far beyond Sweden.

What the City Thinks
People in Gävle have mixed feelings about the Gävlebocken. Some love it as a fun tradition and a special part of Christmas, while others are frustrated by the repeated burnings. Still, the goat remains an important part of the city’s holiday celebrations, and the city continues to build it every year.

Why the Media Cares
The Gävlebocken gets a lot of attention from the media, especially when it is burned. News outlets around the world, like BBC and CNN, often report on it, making the goat famous far beyond Sweden. This has made the Gavle Goat a global part of the Christmas conversation.

The Gävlebocken’s mix of tradition, controversy, and media attention has kept it in the spotlight and made it a well-known symbol of the holiday season.

Statistics

The Gävlebocken’s survival rate is about 30-40%. In recent years, security measures have been greatly improved, making it more difficult for people to set the goat on fire. Despite these efforts, the goat has still been burned in several years, but its survival rate has increased due to the enhanced protection.

Survived 20 times:  1967, 1968, 1981, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023

Burned/Demolished 37 times: 1966, 1969-1980, 1982-1987, 1989, 1991-1992, 1995, 1998-2001, 2003-2005, 2008-2009, 2011-2013, 2015-2016, 2021

Not Just Flames: Bizarre Ways the Gavle Goat Has Fallen

1971: Vandalized

1972: Collapsed after sabotage

1973: Stolen

1975: Collapsed

1976: Hit by a car

1977:  Vandalized

1983: Vandalized

2023: Straw eaten up by birds 

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