Gävlebocken 2023 - Carol of the Birds
December 17, 2023 2:14 PM Subscribe
The Gävle goat is back for 2023, and is facing a new peril. Jackdaws have descended on this year's sculpture and are pulling it apart to eat the seeds left within the straw. 2022's goat survived thanks to a double fence and 24 hour guards, what will it mean if this year's goat falls to natural forces instead of arson?
More goat goodness: peruse a timeline of Gavle goat history, or watch the livestream. Gävle goat previouslies: 2020, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009.
More goat goodness: peruse a timeline of Gavle goat history, or watch the livestream. Gävle goat previouslies: 2020, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009.
what will it mean if this year's goat falls to natural forces instead of arson?
Nature eating itself, no matter whatever perverted form we have bent Nature into, is better than us burning Nature down.
That's a rather serious statement about a thing I've been watching with glee for years.
Honestly, if the goat falls apart from bird pecking before Jan 2, that's seriously Nature's Way, and is the equivalent of those time lapse films of decaying animals like the ones NIN used for concerts ages ago.
But I always root for the goat, and I doubt the goat will be enough torn apart to be considered "gone" by Jan 2. But maybe?
posted by hippybear at 2:45 PM on December 17, 2023 [5 favorites]
Nature eating itself, no matter whatever perverted form we have bent Nature into, is better than us burning Nature down.
That's a rather serious statement about a thing I've been watching with glee for years.
Honestly, if the goat falls apart from bird pecking before Jan 2, that's seriously Nature's Way, and is the equivalent of those time lapse films of decaying animals like the ones NIN used for concerts ages ago.
But I always root for the goat, and I doubt the goat will be enough torn apart to be considered "gone" by Jan 2. But maybe?
posted by hippybear at 2:45 PM on December 17, 2023 [5 favorites]
The Goat is a bellwether, that’s for sure.
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:46 PM on December 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:46 PM on December 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Any chance they simply omitted the flame retardent, which made the straw usable by the jackdaws, or maybe climate change caused the jackdaws interest in the straw this time of year? Could the goat be a bellwether of +1.5°C or even +2.0°C?
posted by jeffburdges at 2:53 PM on December 17, 2023
posted by jeffburdges at 2:53 PM on December 17, 2023
This holiday is on fucking downs. I mean, you used to be able to expect some sort of over the top, hyperactive holiday insanity.
HUNDREDS OF JACKDAWS HAVE DESCENDED ON THE GAVLEBOCKEN!!!
But no, we get a smallish flock have visited to have a lovely quiet breakfast of grains.
2023, you're worthless and weak.
posted by evilDoug at 3:03 PM on December 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
HUNDREDS OF JACKDAWS HAVE DESCENDED ON THE GAVLEBOCKEN!!!
But no, we get a smallish flock have visited to have a lovely quiet breakfast of grains.
2023, you're worthless and weak.
posted by evilDoug at 3:03 PM on December 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
I’d love to make a joke, but I don’t really see this as any different from the fact that it was just below 80 degrees in Tokyo on Saturday, or that typhoons/hurricanes don’t follow the “season” they used to, or the rising number of bears wandering into towns all over Japan (not enough food, and the prolonged warm weather has them active when they’d normally be hibernating).
Even when it’s cute, we’re seeing the disruption we’ve caused coming back and telling us that here is another thing we’re losing. We’re remarkably adaptable, though. No, not that we’ll change our ways, nothing like that. We’ll just let go of the thing we lost, and pretend we like the new thing better.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:15 PM on December 17, 2023 [11 favorites]
Even when it’s cute, we’re seeing the disruption we’ve caused coming back and telling us that here is another thing we’re losing. We’re remarkably adaptable, though. No, not that we’ll change our ways, nothing like that. We’ll just let go of the thing we lost, and pretend we like the new thing better.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:15 PM on December 17, 2023 [11 favorites]
maybe climate change caused the jackdaws interest in the straw
The straw has more grain in it this year than usual, apparently, due to the wet summer Sweden experienced.
posted by EvaDestruction at 3:39 PM on December 17, 2023 [3 favorites]
The straw has more grain in it this year than usual, apparently, due to the wet summer Sweden experienced.
posted by EvaDestruction at 3:39 PM on December 17, 2023 [3 favorites]
EVEN NATURE ITSELF ASSAULTS THE GAVLEBOCKEN
posted by Pope Guilty at 3:42 PM on December 17, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 3:42 PM on December 17, 2023 [7 favorites]
I found this clip from the livestream during a more active time for the birds that maybe gives a better sense of the numbers involved.
posted by polymath at 4:02 PM on December 17, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by polymath at 4:02 PM on December 17, 2023 [8 favorites]
It'll be bizarre if "bird attack" is what takes the goat out.
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:28 PM on December 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:28 PM on December 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Better jackdaws than some random teenagers with a lighter.
We don't have them here as far as I can tell, but they are Corvid-adjacent, which means me and my dog are not fans, (if only she could fly, she would remove their menace).
posted by Windopaene at 4:50 PM on December 17, 2023
We don't have them here as far as I can tell, but they are Corvid-adjacent, which means me and my dog are not fans, (if only she could fly, she would remove their menace).
posted by Windopaene at 4:50 PM on December 17, 2023
In order for it to be a proper augury for our coming year, once the Jackdaws have eaten their fill, we’re going to need a giant lightning storm to gather and hit the Goat with hundreds of bolts which burn it to a crisp and leave a crater at least six feet deep.
posted by jamjam at 5:36 PM on December 17, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by jamjam at 5:36 PM on December 17, 2023 [4 favorites]
Yay for smart birdies. I'd be all for a holiday goat sculpture just made out of suet and seeds; give a little bit back to our flying friends.
posted by maxwelton at 6:04 PM on December 17, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by maxwelton at 6:04 PM on December 17, 2023 [4 favorites]
Did they use the wrong category of straw? My impression from garden research is there are a couple baled straw varieties that are no/low seed that could be used between planted rows…did someone save too much money? Of course my perspective is an entire ocean away from Sweden…
posted by childofTethys at 6:39 PM on December 17, 2023
posted by childofTethys at 6:39 PM on December 17, 2023
2023, you're worthless and weak...
evilDoug, I am BEGGING you - please do NOT antagonise 2023!
posted by ninazer0 at 6:56 PM on December 17, 2023 [12 favorites]
evilDoug, I am BEGGING you - please do NOT antagonise 2023!
posted by ninazer0 at 6:56 PM on December 17, 2023 [12 favorites]
Jackdaws love my big sphinx goat of quartz straw
posted by zsazsa at 8:50 PM on December 17, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by zsazsa at 8:50 PM on December 17, 2023 [4 favorites]
When are they gonna reveal the tower defense game that the Gävle goat is a marketing campaign for.
posted by BrotherCaine at 1:06 AM on December 18, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by BrotherCaine at 1:06 AM on December 18, 2023 [3 favorites]
OHBOI
I love me some Goat Madness. And I've been documenting the slow decent of 2023's beast on my Tumblr if it so pleases the jury.
This year's goat is made of shorter straws with more seed in it, thanks to unseasonable wetness. It means the whole thing is a shitload more vulnerable to attack. Not only have they been yanking the seeds, the straw is shorter and easier to dislodge. The birds descended less than a week after it went up and have been at it since. I think they have gotten most of the seed, there's been fewer lately but a duck did show up too so who knows? Not this Australian.
The subject of flame retardants is a tough one with the goat. Some folks favor it but it's an evironmental hazard, it's wet in Gavle in winter and the snow falls and melts enough that any flame retardant on the straw inevitable washes off and will no longer be able to do its job; also they're all horrible Forever Chemicals and no-one wants that in the ground under the Goat. It also makes disposal of the straw a problem; they say they store it for next year but I bet that's just the frame and the straw itself is tossed. I also have a distant memory of one year the flame retardant interacting strangely with contaminants/ice/whatever on the straw and somehow making it more flammable. Generally the better approach is to encase it in ice.
I am hearty and permanent team Burn the Goat. It's our last big Fuck You from the dark pagan past to the jollified bowdlerised midwinter festival, an ashy retort to demands that we be Merry and Bright but only in a way that generates a good annual return for retailers, hoteliers and the like, with a hefty forced smile that ignores how fraught the season is for a lot of people. It's a big fucking tourist trap that deserves to be put to the flame, the last rites for the old ways. The bean in the porridge and the hog bled out to feed us to spring and the call to the Unconquered Sun - come back, this is how you do it, you long lost distant prick, hot and radiant and glorious! SOL INVICTUS SOL INVICTUS!
posted by Jilder at 2:22 AM on December 18, 2023 [13 favorites]
I love me some Goat Madness. And I've been documenting the slow decent of 2023's beast on my Tumblr if it so pleases the jury.
This year's goat is made of shorter straws with more seed in it, thanks to unseasonable wetness. It means the whole thing is a shitload more vulnerable to attack. Not only have they been yanking the seeds, the straw is shorter and easier to dislodge. The birds descended less than a week after it went up and have been at it since. I think they have gotten most of the seed, there's been fewer lately but a duck did show up too so who knows? Not this Australian.
The subject of flame retardants is a tough one with the goat. Some folks favor it but it's an evironmental hazard, it's wet in Gavle in winter and the snow falls and melts enough that any flame retardant on the straw inevitable washes off and will no longer be able to do its job; also they're all horrible Forever Chemicals and no-one wants that in the ground under the Goat. It also makes disposal of the straw a problem; they say they store it for next year but I bet that's just the frame and the straw itself is tossed. I also have a distant memory of one year the flame retardant interacting strangely with contaminants/ice/whatever on the straw and somehow making it more flammable. Generally the better approach is to encase it in ice.
I am hearty and permanent team Burn the Goat. It's our last big Fuck You from the dark pagan past to the jollified bowdlerised midwinter festival, an ashy retort to demands that we be Merry and Bright but only in a way that generates a good annual return for retailers, hoteliers and the like, with a hefty forced smile that ignores how fraught the season is for a lot of people. It's a big fucking tourist trap that deserves to be put to the flame, the last rites for the old ways. The bean in the porridge and the hog bled out to feed us to spring and the call to the Unconquered Sun - come back, this is how you do it, you long lost distant prick, hot and radiant and glorious! SOL INVICTUS SOL INVICTUS!
posted by Jilder at 2:22 AM on December 18, 2023 [13 favorites]
Oh and I am delighted that it's jackdaws getting the job done. They're smart enough that they'll likely be back next year to see if the buffet is repeated. I want a fire but sky burial will do in a pinch.
posted by Jilder at 2:23 AM on December 18, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by Jilder at 2:23 AM on December 18, 2023 [7 favorites]
Jilder, I love your page on this, and the explanation, and then I read the "burn the goat in effigy" page and i just downloaded the game.
I would like to note I ordered a goat sweater off gavlegoat.com, it has yet to ship/no notification it's gone yet, they said they take 10-40 days but I'm not sure if that's just international shipping or what, they don't give refunds, they won't give me any updates unless I downloaded the app, and the app claims it's already been delivered, which it has not. So....yeah. Mentioning that as an FYI. I think I ordered the ornament from them last year and had no issues, but not sure what's going on now.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:39 AM on December 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
I would like to note I ordered a goat sweater off gavlegoat.com, it has yet to ship/no notification it's gone yet, they said they take 10-40 days but I'm not sure if that's just international shipping or what, they don't give refunds, they won't give me any updates unless I downloaded the app, and the app claims it's already been delivered, which it has not. So....yeah. Mentioning that as an FYI. I think I ordered the ornament from them last year and had no issues, but not sure what's going on now.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:39 AM on December 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
The website for that goat sweater does have a "Contact Us" link on it which leads to a contact form and also has links for tracking your order and even maybe a customer chat thing? So maybe try reaching out through one of those.
posted by hippybear at 9:46 AM on December 18, 2023
posted by hippybear at 9:46 AM on December 18, 2023
No response on the chat yet, but I'm guessing perhaps it's international chat. The tracking order thing didn't work since I have no shipping/tracking number, just my order number.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:48 AM on December 18, 2023
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:48 AM on December 18, 2023
jenfullmoon, one year the official gift shop had a fibreglass fire blanket with the goat on it and I coveted it so badly. I'm in Australia so no shipping to me from Sweden but that year they didn't even ship to a mate of mine in fucking Finland, which is like throwing it over the fence, so I'm sorry to hear they haven't improved.
posted by Jilder at 4:47 PM on December 18, 2023
posted by Jilder at 4:47 PM on December 18, 2023
Burning the goat feels like something that would continue well into the 24th century.
2380: Goat burned because of exploding EPS relay.
2381: Goat set on fire by lone Vulcan who later turned himself in claiming it was only logical.
2382: Goat survived.
2383: Attempted theft by unknown shuttlecraft. The tractor beam snapped as it went to warp. Goat later located drifting in orbit around Sedna. Goat survived.
2384: Goat set on fire by visiting Klingons who claimed they were wrongly told by locals that it was "a great honor" to set the goat on fire. Goat destroyed.
2385: During a coincidentally unscheduled Level 1 diagnostic on the force field generator, the goat was mysteriously transported to 5m above an active lava dome in Iceland. Goat destroyed.
2386: A dozen Borg dressed as Santa and elves materialized around the goat, doused it with synthetic petroleum, lit it on fire, then shouted 'MERRY CHRISTMAS CHARLIE BROWN' in unison before transporting away. Goat destroyed.
2387: Repeatedly set on fire and restored to it's original state by mysterious alien trickster demigod every single night in December. Goat survived?
posted by RonButNotStupid at 5:50 AM on December 19, 2023 [9 favorites]
2380: Goat burned because of exploding EPS relay.
2381: Goat set on fire by lone Vulcan who later turned himself in claiming it was only logical.
2382: Goat survived.
2383: Attempted theft by unknown shuttlecraft. The tractor beam snapped as it went to warp. Goat later located drifting in orbit around Sedna. Goat survived.
2384: Goat set on fire by visiting Klingons who claimed they were wrongly told by locals that it was "a great honor" to set the goat on fire. Goat destroyed.
2385: During a coincidentally unscheduled Level 1 diagnostic on the force field generator, the goat was mysteriously transported to 5m above an active lava dome in Iceland. Goat destroyed.
2386: A dozen Borg dressed as Santa and elves materialized around the goat, doused it with synthetic petroleum, lit it on fire, then shouted 'MERRY CHRISTMAS CHARLIE BROWN' in unison before transporting away. Goat destroyed.
2387: Repeatedly set on fire and restored to it's original state by mysterious alien trickster demigod every single night in December. Goat survived?
posted by RonButNotStupid at 5:50 AM on December 19, 2023 [9 favorites]
NPR interviews the goat spokesperson.
In other news, my sweater finally shipped! Definitely not arriving in time for Christmas, but at least it shipped.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:11 PM on December 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
In other news, my sweater finally shipped! Definitely not arriving in time for Christmas, but at least it shipped.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:11 PM on December 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
If Leverage had a Gavle Goat heist: "everyone has to constantly remind Parker they are not here to burn the Gävlebocken, leave the Gävlebocken, do not be distracted by the Gävlebocken. Until we finally are rewarded with the delight on Parker’s face as everyone on the team concedes that in fact we now must burn the Gävlebocken."
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:34 PM on December 22, 2023
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:34 PM on December 22, 2023
- Someone burned a tiny straw goat for an hour.
- Bird-eating timelapse
- There is barely enough straw left to burn. Even the refuse pile has blown away.
I'm kind of in love with the goat as massive bird feeder now and would be happy to observe Goat Eatwatch rather then Firewatch.
posted by EvaDestruction at 7:55 AM on December 25, 2023
posted by EvaDestruction at 7:55 AM on December 25, 2023
I look forward to whatever's put on all the lists of the goat's survival and/or not this year, for sure. So far it's not on fire this morning, from when I checked.
In other news, I assumed my sweater was coming from oh, Sweden, but the package listing says CHINA. If I'd known it was shipping from CHINA, I would not have ordered the thing (do not get me started on Chinese mail). GRRRR.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:15 AM on December 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
In other news, I assumed my sweater was coming from oh, Sweden, but the package listing says CHINA. If I'd known it was shipping from CHINA, I would not have ordered the thing (do not get me started on Chinese mail). GRRRR.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:15 AM on December 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
jenfullmoon: It looks like gavlegoat.com is not the official site. They've spoofed the official livestream and are trying to capitalise on this year's spike in fame.
Traditionally I burn the goat in effigy in years it does not burn. Big ambivalent feelings about it this year, because it's a bit like kicking a wounded animal. So we're going to make some bread and have a spread of nice dips to eat with it, and be jackdaws ourselves.
posted by Jilder at 3:22 PM on December 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
Traditionally I burn the goat in effigy in years it does not burn. Big ambivalent feelings about it this year, because it's a bit like kicking a wounded animal. So we're going to make some bread and have a spread of nice dips to eat with it, and be jackdaws ourselves.
posted by Jilder at 3:22 PM on December 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
WIKIPEDIA HAS DECLARED THE GOAT DEAD, THE GOAT IS DEAD GUIS.
posted by Jilder at 5:45 PM on December 29, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by Jilder at 5:45 PM on December 29, 2023 [3 favorites]
I feel like it's really an ambiguous outcome as long as some straw is still left? Of course, at the rate it's going, there may not be any by the end of the year.
Nobody even had the heart to *try* to burn it this year.
Since I am now shut out of reading Gavle Goat's Twitter, does anyone who still reads the hellsite know what the Twitter commentary from the goat has been on this topic?
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:59 PM on December 29, 2023
Nobody even had the heart to *try* to burn it this year.
Since I am now shut out of reading Gavle Goat's Twitter, does anyone who still reads the hellsite know what the Twitter commentary from the goat has been on this topic?
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:59 PM on December 29, 2023
Not touching twitter with a 10-foot pole myself anymore, but here's a photo from 12/29 on what I believe may be the official insta.
I feel like if it had burned to the same percentage of remaining materials and the fire put out I'd still consider it to have been destroyed, so I'm in favor of calling it for the birds.
posted by polymath at 8:33 PM on December 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
I feel like if it had burned to the same percentage of remaining materials and the fire put out I'd still consider it to have been destroyed, so I'm in favor of calling it for the birds.
posted by polymath at 8:33 PM on December 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
And yeah, feels like trying to burn the goat once the jackdaws took to it would be simultaneously kicking the goat while it was down and rudely destroying a good thing for the birds, so I'm not surprised no attempts were made.
posted by polymath at 8:36 PM on December 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by polymath at 8:36 PM on December 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
We have a tradition where, in the years the arsonists fail, we burn the goat in effigy on New Year's Eve. This year it feels like hurting an ailing friend, so instead we are making goat shaped loaves and eating them. My son wants to make some little loaves to leave out for the birds, too. Seems right.
posted by Jilder at 8:42 PM on December 29, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by Jilder at 8:42 PM on December 29, 2023 [5 favorites]
Reading the Instagram quotes from the goat:
"Feeling a bit exposed. Send warm thoughts my way"
On the third day of christmas Gävle gave to me:
Three hungry jackdaws 🐦🐦🐦
Two little mallards 🦆🦆
And a blackbird in one of the trees. 🦅
Merry Christmas to my international friends that celebrate today! 🎄 I look like the personification of Christmas stress right now, so I'll mostly relax and get some rest today after yesterdays festivities!
I guess the goat is having fun with it....?
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:51 PM on December 29, 2023 [3 favorites]
"Feeling a bit exposed. Send warm thoughts my way"
On the third day of christmas Gävle gave to me:
Three hungry jackdaws 🐦🐦🐦
Two little mallards 🦆🦆
And a blackbird in one of the trees. 🦅
Merry Christmas to my international friends that celebrate today! 🎄 I look like the personification of Christmas stress right now, so I'll mostly relax and get some rest today after yesterdays festivities!
I guess the goat is having fun with it....?
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:51 PM on December 29, 2023 [3 favorites]
Gavle Goat Instagram: "Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid. I'm still standing. Yeah, yeah, yeah "
Wikipedia doesn't know what to classify it as, apparently. It was updated to "standing with damage" and as of this morning, it's this.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:25 AM on January 1 [1 favorite]
Wikipedia doesn't know what to classify it as, apparently. It was updated to "standing with damage" and as of this morning, it's this.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:25 AM on January 1 [1 favorite]
What! They had it classed in red! It's destroyed! It has the same amount of frame visible as if it was set on fire! The straw is gone! It's no more a goat than I am now!
OUTRAGE!
posted by Jilder at 4:30 PM on January 1 [1 favorite]
OUTRAGE!
posted by Jilder at 4:30 PM on January 1 [1 favorite]
Yeah, but the frame still exists. They could reuse it for next year. Which is to say, the birds can't eat the frame apparently and it's not been burned....
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:32 PM on January 1
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:32 PM on January 1
BUT jenfullmoon, when they burn it the frame remains. It's really rare for the frame to go up and when the Goat is burned it's just takes out the straw. LIKE THE BURDS DID.
The birds won. The end.
posted by Jilder at 3:43 PM on January 2
The birds won. The end.
posted by Jilder at 3:43 PM on January 2
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well that sure isn’t ominous, everything’s going to be fiiiiine
posted by Kattullus at 2:20 PM on December 17, 2023 [25 favorites]