Hundreds of thousands of followers around the world are nervously awaiting the resolution of this year's goat drama, but so far the big goat has managed without even getting burned.

The large straw Christmas goat in Gävle has been erected for many years, but it has come to symbolize not only Christmas but also arson. In the early years it burned down every year. Although this year it looks like it will remain unharmed, at least so far.

”"The big goat has escaped completely unharmed. The small goat, which was set up next to it by the Natural Sciences Association at Vasaskolan, has been slightly burned, but not the big one," says Maria Wallberg, spokesperson for the Gävle Goat this Christmas, but in everyday life a marketing strategist in the municipality of Gävle.

She says that the goat has burned many times, but has survived unscathed a total of 15 times in the 50 years that have passed since the goat seriously became Gävle's Christmas symbol.

”If it makes it until January 2nd, it will be the sixteenth year,” she says.

The goat is a strong symbol for Gävle, and the municipality includes it in its graphic material, she says.

”"It is important for Gävle's business and tourism. We see that we get cancellations at restaurants and accommodation when it disappears."”

The goat has so many friends all over the world, she says.

”"120,000 people from 120 countries follow the buck via webcams, and it has a lot of followers on social media. There are people in the US, Australia and England. There are people in the US who build replicas in their gardens."”

But the question is how a fire-ravaged straw hut can become such an important symbol for a central Swedish city. Isn't that a negative thing, with a city symbol whose popularity has come from a series of arson attacks? No, not at all, explains Maria Wallberg.

”"It symbolizes the tension between evil and good. That's what makes the interest so great, and what makes people from all over the world follow it."”

Maybe the good forces can prevail this year, if the goat is allowed to remain standing for the week or so that remains until it is taken down, she hopes.

This year, the goat has been guarded 24/7, she says. The budget for the goat is 1.2 million kronor, but that includes everything – straw, frame, fencing, opening party and 24/7 security.

Since last year, the goat has been behind double fences, and she believes it has had an effect. Then the goat survived all the way to the end. It was worse at the goat's 50th birthday party in 2016, when it burned down at 11 p.m. the evening after the party.

”"It wasn't just us who were sad then, it was followers from all over the world," says Maria Wallberg.

Source.TT