Weird ritual of the burning goat (Christmas goat)

BBCnews ^ | 12/4/05 | bbc

[minus_273]

A giant straw goat erected every year in a Swedish town to mark the festive season has been burned down - again. Police in the town of Gavle said the 13-metre (43 ft) high billy goat has been set on fire so often it has almost become a Christmas ritual.

It was the 22nd time it has gone up in smoke since the town, north of Stockholm, began the tradition in 1966.

Two men were seen running from the blaze, one of whom was disguised as Father Christmas, said police.

[Surtur]

Are you saying the local LEOs "put the hammer down" on Thor?

[NC28203]

Being of Swedish descent, I actually have a small goat (julbock) that I put out each Christmas. Before Santa came to Sweden, a goat played the main role in Christmas celebrations. In the 18th century a grown-up, wearing a goat mask, handed out the presents on Christmas Eve.

[fdsa2]

Interesting fact:

The only person caught for burning the Straw Goat is from Cleveland, Ohio and spent 18 days in Jail.

[tangerine]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zozobra

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/es/nm/es_nm_zozo_1_e.html

Santa Fe burns "Zozobra" every year over Labor Day. It's great fun.

[beaver fever]

Mmmmmmmm..... Yellow snow. The other snow cone.

[Siouxz]

Nah! The Easter Bunny, and in fact all bunnies, do not lay eggs, they lay smart pills that you feed to your younger siblings.

LOL!! Great one. My younger sister is 40 now, so I don't think she'd fall for it, but I did get her to eat some dried red pepper once (told her it was candy)....