Gavlehandel

1991-2000

1991 The goat had an advertising sleigh to keep it company. However it emerged that no planning permission had been obtained for the sleigh. The organization tried this way to get further promotion for the expences of building the goat but it was not popular among the inhabitants. The goat was burned down on Christmas Eve morning. Rebuilt to join a party travelling to Stockholm in a campaign 1992 protesting against the closure of the I 14 Infantry Regiment.

1992 A committe is established to guarante that the building of the Christmas billy goat will proceed in the future. Söders Köpmän, Gävle City and Arbetarbladet ( a local newspaper)cooperate.

The Christmas goat burned down after eight days. Vasaskolan School´s goat was burned down on the same night. Rebuilt, but burned down on 20 December. The "goat burner" who set fire to all three goats was arrested and sent to jail.

1993 The goat gained a place in the Guiness Book of Records again. Vasaskolan Schools´s goat was the new recordholder at 16-metres tall. Survived. This year guarded by taxi and the Home Guard.

1994 Survived. This year a billy goat of wood was build. It followed the Swedish national team to Italy for the World Championship in ice hockey.

1995 A norwegian was arrested for a attempt to burn the goat. Later the goat was burned down on Christmas Eve morning. Rebuilt in time for the start of the 550-year jubilee of Gävle city foundation.

1996 The goat survived. Guarded for the first time by a Web camera.

1997 Survived, suffering only limited damage by fireworks. The culprits was grasped. This year the Christmasgoat committee desided to burn the goat themselves because the frame was too damaged to use next year. In contribution to the illegal goatburners it didn´t work so well. In the end the fire brigade had to overturn the goat and cut it in pieces with a chainsaw.

1998 The goat was burned down on 11 December, despite the biggest snowstorm in the century. Rebuilt the 16 December in spite of the fact that all motor trafic in the city was shut down for ten days. In a couple of days it fell over 3-metres of snow.

1999 Burned down a few hours after being erected. Rebuilt in time for Lucia Day.

2000 A new member of the Christmasgoat committe, Eje Berglund, contributed with a fantastic firework at the inauguration. Burned down a couple of days before the New Year.

History