Every year as Advent begins, cities across Sweden welcome the festive season by building traditional Yule Goats, with the most famous one standing proudly in the town of Gävle. Made entirely of straw, this iconic structure often towers up to an impressive 40 feet, drawing visitors from around the world.
But since 1966, the Gävle Yule Goat has been damaged or completely destroyed nearly 36 times, turning its survival each year into an ongoing Christmas tradition of its own.
This unique tradition is based on the story that a ‘man-sized’ goat figure had accompanied Saint Nicholas on Christmas in the 11th century.
