How a Giant Goat and Arson Became Christmas Traditions in a Small Swedish Town

Tom Scott visited The Gävle Goat to explain how a giant straw goat and arson both became Christmas traditions in the small Swedish city of Gävle. Although burning the goat down is not legal or strictly part of the tradition, it has happened all but 12 of the years the goat has been constructed.

In Gävle, Sweden, every year they build Gävlebocken, an enormous traditional Swedish Christmas straw goat. And every year, someone tries to burn it down. Here’s to holiday traditions.