Symbol of magic, light, and deception.
Thor, the deity of thunder and light, is represented by the Yule goat. Thor was pulled by two goats in a chariot. The last bundle of grain from the harvest was considered magical in Paganism. It was given the moniker Yule goat and set aside for Yule celebrations. It was thought to be the harvest spirit. Devac was also represented by a white goat in Proto-Slavic times. A man disguised as a white goat would prowl the streets demanding gifts. Over a thousand years ago, in Sweden, a man dressed as a goat was slaughtered before Yule in a pageant to represent Thor’s goats. During Yule and the arrival of the light, the goat would rise once more.
The Yule goat became more beneficent during the nineteenth century. Instead of demanding gifts, he would give them. In Christianity, the Yule goat was replaced by St. Nick. Julebukking, in which two individuals dress up as the Yule goat and go caroling around the neighborhood, is still practiced in Sweden. Neighbors bring them beverages and try to figure out who is dressed up. Yule Goat ornaments can also be spotted on Christmas trees. Giant Yule goats have also been erected in cities and towns. This custom began in 1943, when a big Yule goat was built in the Swedish village of Gavle.