Keep reading to understand the meaning behind the tradition of yule logs and everything there is to know about it. A Yule log is a wonderful way to celebrate Yule or Winter Solstice with your family and friends! The Yule (Juul) Log tradition started in Norway to honor the god Thor. The yule log has its roots (and often simply was a root) in Norse mythology, and from there it was all up and up. Family, friends, and neighbors would come together to celebrate the Winter Solstice. In ancient Rome, the winter solstice was celebrated at the Feast of Saturnalia, to honor Saturn, the god of agricultural bounty. It began as a pagan observance and adopted later into Christian holidays, burned on Christmas Eve. Pagan Yule Log Meaning, History, and Traditions. Yule logs are now often symbolized by a cake shaped like a log. While the roots of the tradition are somewhat unclear, it’s thought that it’s driven by Germanic paganism. The word yule develops from the geōl, with cousin forms in such other Germanic languages as Old Norse and Gothic.English speakers are most familiar with yule through associations dating to its original use. The Yule Log is a tradition possibly of Germanic or Nordic origin. 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 Yule Log is a log that is burned during Winter solstice and Christmas celebrations. The first reference of the tradition of the Yule Log can be found in Norse Mythology. Although some believe its origins are Pagan, the practice of burning a Yule log began in Medieval times as a Nordic tradition. It is believed, if the tradition is followed with sincerity and devotion, it would bring good health, wealth and productivity in the year ahead. Source: Pinterest. A Yule log looks lovely on a table surrounded by candles and holiday greenery. It is a symbol of prosperity and luck. Yule Log is a significant part of Christmas traditions.Yule log is a large log burned in the hearth of the house. It symbolized the shifting of darkness to light. The custom of burning the Yule log dates back to ancient times. 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. Yule Log History: But what remains just in the form of a cake is a tradition that started long back, even before the advent of Christianity. Another way to use your Yule log is to burn it as our ancestors did so many centuries ago. The yule log was thought to have the power to ward off misfortune, so it was kept in the home yearlong. The tradition of burning a Yule log at Christmastime predates modern commemorations of the birth of Christ. 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