Quote:
STOCKHOLM, Sweden - In Christmases past, the giant straw goat in the city of Gavle has been burned, dismembered and run over by vandals who made a sport out of destroying it in imaginative ways.
But this year, thanks to a flame-resistant coat, the 43-foot-high goat made it through the holiday season.
The Christmas monument - erected by Gavle residents every year to mark the holiday season - was attacked by would-be arsonists in mid-December.
"If the Gavle goat hadn't been impregnated with flame-resistant chemicals, we would have been left with a black skeleton," said Anna Ostman, spokeswoman for the city's goat committee.
The city dismantled the goat on Tuesday, marking a rare victory against vandals.
It is only the 12th time in its 40-year history that the goat survived unscathed. Since it was first erected on Dec. 3 1966, it has been burned down 22 times, smashed several times, run over by a car and had its legs cut off before Christmas. Last year's goat was burned down by vandals dressed as Santa Claus and the Gingerbread Man.
Officials said the straw goat would be kept in a secret location until next Christmas.
But this year, thanks to a flame-resistant coat, the 43-foot-high goat made it through the holiday season.
The Christmas monument - erected by Gavle residents every year to mark the holiday season - was attacked by would-be arsonists in mid-December.
"If the Gavle goat hadn't been impregnated with flame-resistant chemicals, we would have been left with a black skeleton," said Anna Ostman, spokeswoman for the city's goat committee.
The city dismantled the goat on Tuesday, marking a rare victory against vandals.
It is only the 12th time in its 40-year history that the goat survived unscathed. Since it was first erected on Dec. 3 1966, it has been burned down 22 times, smashed several times, run over by a car and had its legs cut off before Christmas. Last year's goat was burned down by vandals dressed as Santa Claus and the Gingerbread Man.
Officials said the straw goat would be kept in a secret location until next Christmas.
Small cities in Sweden can't have that many places to hide 43' tall straw goats. Do not give up, you'll get the goat yet. Might I recommend locking several hungry mountian goats in the location and letting them eat the target.
(will this many goat references wake Aegis?!?)
