The large straw goat erected in Gävle, Sweden, is called the Gävle Goat.
The giant Yule goat is built in Castle Square in the Swedish city of Gävle during the Christmas and New Year season. It was first constructed in 1966 as a large version of the traditional Scandinavian Christmas goat, a figure linked with older midwinter customs.
The structure has become internationally famous because vandals have repeatedly attempted to burn or damage it. Some years it survives the season intact; in other years it is destroyed before the holiday period ends. Authorities have used guards, cameras, fencing, and fire-resistant treatments at different times.
The Gävle Goat is not specifically a midnight countdown object. Its fame comes from its seasonal setting, its enormous scale, and the recurring contest between organizers protecting it and people trying to attack it.