Merchants hope vandals don't get their goat

GAVLE, Sweden -- For 40 years, vandals in the city of Gavle have made it a tradition to burn down the giant straw Christmas goat erected by merchants on a central square.
Since it was first put up in 1966, the 43-foot-tall goat has been torched 22 times -- last year by two culprits witnesses said were dressed up as Santa Claus and the Gingerbread Man.
This year, however, organizers are confident they have outsmarted the would-be arsonists by dousing the goat -- a centuries-old Christmas symbol in Scandinavia -- in a flame-retardant normally used on airplanes.
Oddsmaker PinnacleSports.com remains unconvinced, saying the goat is a 2-to-3 favorite to once again light up the sky before the holidays are over.