Christmas Goat Back To Tempt Fate

The Christmas Goat has returned to IKEA in Garðarbær, despite facing both potential arson or high winds, which have defeated the giant straw ruminant before.

Vísir reports that IKEA in Garðarbær is already beginning preparations for Christmas. While this means the store itself will be replete with holiday decorations, no IKEA in Christmastime would be complete with a six-metre-tall straw goat standing out front, also known as the Gävle Goat.

This Swedish mini-tradition was started by Stig Gavlén in 1966, and seems to be a magnet for misfortune, even in Iceland.

In both 2011 and 2013, unusually high winds tore down the Gävle Goat, whose thin metal frame was unable to stand up against Iceland’s trademark gusts. In 2010 and 2012, vandals set fire to the goat.

How things will fare this year still remains to be seen. In the meantime, you can check out some photos of Iceland’s version of the Gävle Goat here, and watch security camera footage of the 2010 goat burning below, appropriately set to the tune of Progidy’s “Firestarter”.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD5LI1KQyOc&w=420&h=315]