'Twas the night before Advent, and the small Swedish town of Gavle (pronounced yeah've-leh) was ready to proudly show off the Gavlebocken to the world.

Every year, as per tradition, the massive straw goat is erected to commemorate the first night of Advent.

And every year, as per (unofficial) tradition, vandals try to burn it down.

Well, not burn it down per se...but burn, decapitate, hit and run, steal, you get the idea.

This year the poor Gavlebocken didn't even last a full 24 hours before its untimely demise

The 2.3 million kronor (or $250,000) spent on the Gavlebocken included its construction, marketing, the launch party on November 30th, two guards, fences, and a series of security cameras.

Local politicians and the official Gavlebocken spokesperson ensured the public that it would survive until after the holidays, but it was not to be.

The guards were bribed, the cameras were hacked, and the fences were no match for the arsonists' flaming arrows.

Thus, sadly, the Gavlebocken was not to be.

RIP Gavlebocken, you will be missed.