The Christmas goat is back!

Those not familiar with Scandinavian Christmas traditions may find themselves a little confused in Iceland today as they overhear conversations about the arrival of the ‘Christmas goat’.

The ‘Christmas goat’ or ‘Yule goat’ is a Scandinavian and Northern European Christmas symbol and tradition, possibly dating back to pagan days, and is nowadays a particularly popular tradition in Sweden.

It manifestation is Iceland is the large straw Christmas goat installed each year by Swedish furniture giant IKEA outside its store in the Greater Reykjavik town of Garðabær.

Covered in thousands of lights, the six-metre-tall structure towers overs the surrounding landscape, bringing light and Christmas cheer as the winter nights draw in.

For many Icelanders, just as the arrival the golden plover bird heralds the coming of spring, so the IKEA Yule goat announces that Christmas is on its way – whether one likes it or not...