Oh, bloody hell, the buggering Christmas goat burned down again... It's not even December yet, for goodness' sake.
Context: for every year since 1966 (making this the 50th), the town of Gävle, Sweden has built and displayed a giant traditional straw yule goat over the Christmas season. It tends to be burned down or vandalised at some point during that time. It's quite rare that they survive the year, but they usually manage to Christmas Eve.
Some years, they have a stand-in ready, but not this year. It will not be until next Christmas now, which is quite the shame. I tend to be rather categorical, but I firmly believe that the sort of person who would burn it in November do not get to be considered a prankster. It is much too early, and it is downright anti-social. It isn't a disaster if the thing burns, but it is much more fitting towards the end of Christmas, when it has served its purpose. In brief; what time one would choose to make an attempt on the goat's life say a lot of who one is. Doing it this early says "egotist, coward", since it denies people any time to enjoy the blasted thing, and it is barely a challenge since it is much less strictly guarded this early. Someone who is quite keen on a good blaze, but does not want to work for it or consider any others in getting it.
Slap them in irons! One gantelope and five years penal labour, I say! That should teach them to play with fire. Indeed, that could be the new tradition, the Flogging of the Arsonist, if the goat is no longer available.