An Ongoing Christmas Tradition
The December holiday
season for Western Europe would not be
complete with the yule (Christmas)
log. Originally an entire tree, it was carefully chosen and brought into the
house with great ceremony because it provided the home with much-needed warmth
during the dark, cold winter. In some European traditions, the largest end of
the log would be placed into the fire hearth while the rest of the tree stuck
out into the room.
As is the case with most
folk traditions, this Christmas Eve activity which included special ceremonies
and prayers changed over time to accommodate modern needs. For example, it now
refers to burning of the largest log possible. In some regions of Ireland, for example, a candle,
rather than a log is now lit.
Historically, it is
believed the practice dates back to before medieval Nordic-Germanic paganism. The
tradition spread all over Europe with each
country using their native trees. For example: oak in England,
and birch in Scotland.
The phrase yule log has also come to refer to
log-shaped Christmas cakes, also known as as Bûche de Noël.
Here are two tasty Bûche de Noël recipes:
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