The large Christmas goat in Gävle has been inaugurated for the 58th time and is ready for a new season.
Large numbers of Gävle residents gathered to experience Sunday's inauguration party, where among others Peter Jöback participated.
The Gävle goat is 13 meters high and a truckload of hay is required to build it.
Over the years, the goat has been subjected to a lot. It has been burned down several times and on one occasion, a hot rod car drove into the goat.
Last year, the goat was allowed to stand, but was instead eaten by hungry crows. This year, the hope is that the hay used will not appeal to the birds, local media reports.
The goat is built of hay on a wooden frame. It weighs three tons, is 13 meters high and seven meters long.
The first goat was erected in 1966. It was advertising man Stig Gavlén and his brother Jörgen who came up with the idea of a large hay goat to stimulate trade.
The goat has been burned down more times than it has been left unscathed. At least seven times, it has been subjected to other attacks.
In 1976, a hot rod car drove into the goat, and in 2009, the web cameras were hacked, so that those who burned it down were not caught on camera. On one occasion, it was burned down by an American visiting Gävle.
On several occasions, the perpetrators have been caught and convicted of vandalism. The punishment has been both imprisonment and fines.
For each goat, 56 hay mats, 1,600 meters of rope, 1,200 running meters of wood, 50 meters of fabric, and 1,000 working hours are required.
Facts: Gävle Municipality
