[DrunkSmurf]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4497408.stm

The above article discusses a giant straw goat erected every December in a small Swedish town. Arsonists frequently burn down the goat before Christmas.

What the article doesn't answer:

Why the hell is this town erecting a giant straw goat every year? Is is part of a Nativity scene? An ancient pagan festival? What?

[Syd Smurf]

Hi Tim

Check out this link for info:

http://hem.passagen.se/farila/julbocken.htm

I've never heard of this Goat before so it was an interesting thing to read

It even inspired Syd to do his own bloody Christmas erection ...although a little cold water will burn that one down pretty quickly.

[SA Smurfette]

You'd think after having it burnt down 22 times they'd guard the bloody thing

You could understand once or twice , but 22 times what the?

Nice story though ( about the origin of the goat, not the bit about it being burnt down all the time.

It's interesting what other countries do at Christmas

[Syd Smurf]

You'd think after having it burnt down 22 times they'd guard the bloody thing

I would of thought after the 10th time they would of said that's the last straw.....you have to give it to them for persistence....builders & burners that is.

[Tojo]

Maybe there's not much to do in Sweden? I know someone who's just gone to work there & at this time of year it's dark quite a lot of the time. I'd find that pretty depressing I must admit. And when someone puts up a straw goat which is just begging to be fired...........

[Syd Smurf]

Maybe they just got cold

I know I would probably set myself on fire if I was freezing in Sweden during winter

[SA Smurfette]

I know I would probably set myself on fire if I was freezing in Sweden during winter

Yeah it's a bit hot to do it here isn't it

[Syd Smurf]

Yeah it's a bit hot to do it here isn't it

I dunno Rae...there have been times I thought about it cos that might bring the Fire Brigade with those cold water hoses to put the flames out and I could be cool again which sound very appealing right now in this stifling heat.....then again, I collect smurfs I will never be cool again

[Bunno Smurf]

Is it that hot over east at the moment?

We've had three days of cloudy, windy, rainy weather. I actually had to put a jumper on the other day. We had this awesome thunder storm not this weekend just gone but the one before. The rain pelted down. I saw a lightning flash and not more than 2 secs later there was this almighty BOOM and the house shook. Great stuff!

[Syd Smurf]

We had that type of weather Linda including the booming thunder over the weekend.....I guess we sent it west

[Bunno Smurf]

We had that type of weather Linda including the booming thunder over the weekend.....I guess we sent it west

Ummm Dyar I said we had it two weekends ago so I guess we sent it your way. We seem to be getting a new front now...minus the big BOOMs.

Yes that says new front...big B..O...O...M..S...don't try to twist it , Dyar. We know you well!



Edit edit edit. I am more persistent than you Dyar

[Tor]

Okay, here are some answers from a Swede.

The "julbock" is up for display in a town called Gävle every year. A julbock is a traditional part of a Swedish Christmas and is usually small enough to fit under a normal Christmas tree.

In Sweden you can put up money with gambling companies and guess which date the julbock will burn (or if it will survive).

The julbock in Gävle is "guarded" by four web cameras and here are the pictures from this years fire:
http://flyingmodels.org/diverse/bocken/

The American who burnt down the julbock in 2001 said he thought it was a Swedish legal tradition to set fire to Christmas goats. It is not.

[Syd Smurf]

I don't think there's much more I can say about your post Linda as you seemed to of done it for me already

I think instead of guarding it with web-cmas that they should guard it with fireman.....it seems like it's only a matter of time before it happens anyway.

[eggie smurf]

Andrew....it looks like Linda's post was E....D.....I......T.....e......d hmmmmm

[Syd Smurf]

I wonder who would of done that.....I should start a poll with the likely suspects

[Bunno Smurf]

Andrew....it looks like Linda's post was E....D.....I......T.....e......d hmmmmm

Thanks Stace. I have re-edited it.


as for the poll ...here's the likely suspects:

Dyar
Dyar
Dyar
Dyar
Dyar and oh umm????
Dyar

[Syd Smurf]

Alright...I will come clean and admit it was me...I would hate for anyone to start pointing the finger at other innocent members here not realising that I was the one that actually did it......I think Stace gave me away

[Tor]

The police are looking for a man disguised as Santa and his accomplice dressed as a ginger bread man.

[Syd Smurf]

A Ginger Bread Man???....they won't catch him

[Tor]

Don't you eat ginger bread for Christmas? Is it just another stupid Swedish tradaition?