The Swedes are confident that the 2013 Xmas goat won't burn

The Swedes are confident that the 2013 Xmas goat won't burn

Would it really feel like Christmas without the traditional burning of the Swedish Christmas goat?

"An enormous and iconic straw goat that gets illegally torched almost every Christmas is to be unveiled to the Gävle public on Sunday, with organizers confident a change in design will keep arsonists at bay.

The Gävle Goat (Gävlebocken) doesn't usually last long. In fact, it has been torched by arsonists on more occasions than it has survived the Christmas period since it was first erected in the town's main square, Slottstorget, in 1966.

But this year, officials have soaked the hay in anti-flammable liquid in the hope of detracting would-be arsonists, although some locals have complained in the past that such a dousing turns the goat an uglier, darker shade. This was also the case in 2006 and 2007, two years the goat stayed upright."

I'd like to offer my expert consulting skills to the Swedes on this occasion, because it's obvious that "The Three Little Pigs" has not been translated into Swedish. Hey, Sven: if you really don't want the Big Bad Wolf to blow down your house and/or holiday goat, make it from something other than straw. Maybe you have some asbestos still lying around.