It comes in 5 variations. Often, the log was so heavy, it had to be dragged back to the house by several big, strong men. Some groups claimed the ashes would protect the bearer from lightning—an important quality at a time when houses (and most of the contents in them) were made of wood. Yule Log. And what proper bakery would go through a holiday season without a giant, delicate Yule log in the front case? It was originally a Nordic tradition. This is true, because the ash from burnt wood contains a lot of 'potash', which helps plant flowers. It was originally a Nordic tradition. Yule Log History and the Swiss Roll (aka Jelly Roll) Through the years, cakes were baked in molds shaped and decorated to look like animals, such as Easter lambs and rabbits, and many other things, such as Yule Logs, to celebrate Christmas. Yule was the darkest time of the year. Those small hearths, however, were perfect for baking cakes. It began as part of the winter solstice festivities. The Yule Log we know and love today was not always a delicious frosted cake or beautifully decorated centrepiece. The Yule log is a special log chosen and burnt in the heart on Christmas eve. Yule is the name of the old Winter Solstice festivals in Scandinavia and other parts of northern Europe, such as Germany. With Yule comes the iconic Yule Log. The Yule Log was a huge ratings success, and turning viewers’ TVs into makeshift fireplaces also turned out to be a win-win: New Yorkers in apartments without fireplaces could feel … The first direct reference to the Yule log can be found around the 17th century. The Yule Log was originally an entire tree, that was carefully chosen and brought into the house with great ceremony. Although little is known today about the specifics of what they did, many traditions persist. Yule is the name of the old Winter Solstice festivals in Scandinavia and other parts of northern Europe, such as Germany. The traddition of the Yule Log goes back to, before, medieval times.Its thought to have been originally a Nordic tradition. In Devon and Somerset in the UK, some people have a very large bunch of Ash twigs instead of the log. A Yule log or bûche de Noël is a traditional Christmas cake, often served as a dessert near Christmas, especially in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and several former French colonies such as Canada, Vietnam, and Lebanon. The ashes of Yule logs were meant to be very good for plants. It is a symbol of prosperity and luck. The History of the Yule Log. While the event was online due to the pandemic, the 102nd Yule Log Ceremony retained the spirit of the celebration virtually. The Yule Lo g, like many Christmas tradition s, originated as a pagan ritual and was late r adopted by Christian religions.. By Clement A. Back then, Celtic Brits and Gaelic Europeans would gather to welcome the winter solstice at December’s end. The History of Yule Log: Yule Log began in 1918 when the students, approaching their first winter holiday season, asked to illuminate a tree and burn a yule log in College Hall's foyer fireplace. The Norsemen believed that the sun was a giant wheel of fire which rolled away from the earth, and then began rolling back again on the winter solstice. The History of the Yule Log. Each region has variations on the theme, but essentially a tree (or log) is cut down and brought into the house to be fuel for the fire during the 12 days (or 12 hours) before of Christmas. Marzipan and meringue decorations, two of the most popular choices for Yule logs, appeared on many a medieval table. Twice a week we compile our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you. To cleanse the air of the previous year’s events and to usher in the spring, families would burn logs decorated with holly, pinecones or ivy. It’s not exactly known when Yule Log symbolism came to be but it seems to have started in Germany and Scandinavia with the celebrations on the night of the Solstice. Families may have burned a log on Christmas Eve, but smaller hearths became the norm so huge logs were impractical. We don’t know who exactly made the first Yule log cake, but judging from the individual ingredients it could have been as early as the 1600s. But if you get rid of the cinders on Christmas day, it is considered to be very unlucky. Yule Symbology There is much to the symbology of Yule. The yule log has its roots (and often simply was a root) in Norse mythology, and from there it was all up and up. WhyChristmas says the Yule Log tradition originally started as burning an entire tree. Enjoy your bûche de Noël, and think of the hundreds of years of history behind it. In Cornwall (in the UK), the log is called 'The Mock'. WPIX president Fred … People would feast to celebrate the days finally becoming longer, signaling the end of the winter season. The History of the Yule Log. Miles From Christmas in Ritual and Tradition [1912] The peoples of Europe have various centres for their Christmas rejoicing. The largest end of the log would be placed into the fire hearth while the rest of the tree stuck out into the room! In the … © Copyright 2000 - 2021 James Cooper | About the site | Cookies & Privacy | Site Map | Other Links | Support | Website logistics by LetterBlock | Proud Affiliate of the Merry Network, whychristmas?com answers your Christmas questions! The custom of burning the Yule Log goes back to, and before, medieval times. The Celts of the British Isles celebrated midwinter as well. It was considered to be of misfortune if you buy a Yule log. Christmas Yule Log The custom of burning the Yule Log goes back to, and before, medieval times. The tradition originated in Scandinavia, then spread to the Celtic Brits and Gaelic Europeans, who believed that burning a yule log would bring good luck. It symbolized the shifting of darkness to light. The Yule Log TV special, popularized by local NY station WPIX, has an interesting history. Yule Log is a Misc. Main Points About History of Yule Log. Christmas is almost here, and ‘tis the season for rich food traditions. In some eastern European countries, the log was cut down on Christmas Eve morning and lit that evening. All Rights Reserved. Wine and salt were also often used to anoint the logs. The rest is history. The history of the Yule log cake stretches all the way back to Europe’s Iron Age, before the medieval era. item introduced in the 1.6.0 winter update in New Horizons. The History of the Yule Log. Some people like to add extra decorations such as marzipan mushrooms! Choosing and cutting the log was a ceremony in itself - often with singing and merriment to accompany. Once burned, the log’s ashes were valuable treasures said to have medicinal benefits and to guard against evil. It was originally a Nordic tradition. This is a fact, because the cinders from burnt wood contain a lot of 'potash', which helps plants grow and bloom. In Spain and Italy the crib is often the focus of the festival in the home as well as the church. Pagan Yule Log Meaning, History, and Traditions. The log would be lit from the remains of the previous year's log which had been carefully stored away and slowly fed into the fire through the Twelve Days of Christmas. © 2021 A&E Television Networks, LLC. FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. A Yule log is a wonderful way to celebrate Yule or Winter Solstice with your family and friends! Yule is the old name of the Winter Solstice festivals across Europe. In England, Oak is traditional; in Scotland, it is Birch; while in France, it's Cherry. It dates back to at least 1615, when the first known recipe appeared in Gervaise Markham’s tome “The English Huswife.”. Yule Log Tradition: As the tradition goes, the Yule Log was carefully chosen and was cut and dragged home by oxen or horses, while people walked along with it and sang songs and rejoiced at the commencement of celebrations. ‘Tis the season for rich food traditions, including that of the Christmas Yule log. The custom of burning the Yule Log goes back to, and before, medieval times. Sponge cake, which often constitutes the base of the log, is one of the oldest cakes still made today. In some parts of Ireland, people have a large candle instead of a log and this is only lit on New Year's Eve and Twelfth Night. Nowadays, of course, most people have central heating so it is very difficult to burn a tree! Family, friends, and neighbors would come together to celebrate the Winter Solstice. It is a tradition that has been traced way back before the Medieval times to the nomadic tradition. A holiday celebration that began in Norway, on the night of the winter solstice it was common to hoist a giant log onto the hearth to celebrate the return of the sun each year. Burning a log in celebration of Yule started well before medieval times. The Yule log’s ashes are supposed to be very good for plants. The Yule log cake (or bûche de Noël for French speakers) is an elaborate creation consisting of a rolled, filled sponge cake, frosted with chocolate buttercream to look like tree bark and festooned with meringue mushrooms, marzipan holly sprigs, spun sugar cobwebs and any other sort of edible decoration. It was ceremoniously chosen, cut, brought into the house, and placed with one end placed in the fireplace. The log is dried out and then the bark is taken off it before it comes into the house to be burnt. Later, the Yule log was replaced by the Yule tree but, instead of burning it, burning candles were placed on it. Origins and History of the Yule Log Sir James G. Frazer , the author of The Golden Bough (1890), believed that burning the Yule log originated in early Northern European beliefs from the 4th century, which drew a parallel between the oak tree and the god of thunder. Parisian bakers popularized the cake in the 19th century, and different bakeries became known for their more elaborate decorations. Yule Log is a significant part of Christmas traditions.Yule log is a large log burned in the hearth of the house. It was considered important that the re-lighting process was carried out by someone with clean hands. Revolving around harvest and livestock, this was a time of honoring the sun and thankfulness for the bounty that is sustaining the family through the cold. The log itself is traditionally the largest, hardest log that can be gotten from the nearby forest with the intention that it will burn hotly and brightly through the longest night of the year. A Chocolate Yule Log or 'bûche de Noël' is now a popular Christmas dessert or pudding. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. It is believed, if the tradition is followed with sincerity and devotion, it would bring good health, wealth and productivity in the year ahead. The Yule Log is a tradition possibly of Germanic or Nordic origin. The history of the Yule log cake stretches all the way back to Europe’s Iron Age, before the medieval era. In some parts of The Netherlands, this was also done, but the log had to be stored under a bed! But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Where it was tradition to light a 'Yule log' on Christmas Eve and keep it burning continuously throughout the 12 nights of Christmas until Twelfth Night. Yule Log The Yule log originated as a Nordic tradition before medieval times and spread throughout Europe. The Yule Log special was first broadcast in 1966. In Christianity, Protestants might claim that Martin Luther invented the custom, and Catholics might grant St. Boniface the honor, but the custom can demonstrably be traced back through the Roman Saturnalia all the way to ancient Egypt. The earliest known Yule log was either a huge log or possibly an entire tree. Also, in France, the log is sprinkled with wine, before it is burnt, so that it smells nice when it is lit. It became a symbol of Christmas, morphed into a … Toasting The Log. It sells for 1,200 . In Provence (in France), it is traditional that the whole family helps to cut the log down and that a little bit is burnt each night. Yule is the name of the old Winter Solstice festivals in Scandinavia and other parts of northern Europe, such as Germany. Be it cookies and milk under the tree for Santa, candy canes or figgy puddings, it’s hard to think of a Christmas ritual that isn’t tied to food. My Great Grandfather did own a walking stick factory though!). History of the Yule Log December 9, 2019 December 9, 2019 renegade 1 Comment. Yule is the name of the old Winter Solstice festivals in Scandinavia and other parts of northern Europe, such as Germany. Despite its long affiliation with the Christian holiday of Christmas, the Yule log actually has its roots in pagan Norse mythology. With the advent of Christianity, the Yule log tradition continued, albeit on a smaller scale. Some historical reports say ale and cider were involved. A Yule Log (also called chocolate roulade or bûche de Noël) is a chocolatey dessert made from a rolled-up sponge filled with cream and frosted with chocolate buttercream decorated to replicate tree bark. The burni ng a Y ule Log likely started thousan d s of years ago, most li kely in No rthern Europe as a winter festival. Also in the UK, barrel makers (or Coopers as barrel makers were traditionally called) gave their customers old logs that they could not use for making barrels for Yule logs. Yule Log History . The outside is covered with chocolate or chocolate icing and decorated to look like a bark-covered log. - www.whychristmas.com, St. Nicholas, Santa Claus & Father Christmas. In pre-Christian Scandinavia, the Feast of Juul, or Yule, lasted for 12 days celebrating the rebirth of the sun and giving rise to the custom of burning a Yule log. In ancient Rome, the winter solstice was celebrated at the Feast of Saturnalia, to honor Saturn, the god of agricultural bounty. The traditional Yule Log was specially chosen for its large proportions. The custom of the Yule Log spread all over Europe and different kids of wood are used in different countries. This comes from a local legend that Joseph, Mary and Jesus were very cold when the shepherds found them on Christmas Night. Traditional customs such as the Yule log, the decorated tree, and wassailing can all be traced back to Norse origins. The Burning of the Yule Log. They are made of a chocolate sponge roll layered with cream. Nowadays, few people make Yule logs at home, but that doesn’t mean you should pass up a slice in favor of apple pie or a second helping of mashed potatoes. (My surname is Cooper, but I don't make barrels! Different chemicals can be sprinkled on the log like wine to make the log burn with different colored flames! This sounds very dangerous, so please only try this out with some adult supervision!! The Yule (Juul) Log tradition started in Norway to honor the god Thor. 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