Norway is the birthplace of the Yule log. The ancient Norse used the Yule log in their celebration of the return of the sun at winter solstice. “Yule” came from the Norse word hweol, meaning wheel. The Norse believed that the sun was a great wheel of fire that rolled towards and then away from the earth.

What does Yule log symbolize?

The Burning of the Yule Log It began as part of the winter solstice festivities. The candles and lights associated with Christmas, meant to symbolize guiding beacons for the Christ child, may have evolved from the Yule log, which was lit to entice the Sun to return as part of the jól (Yule) festival in Scandinavia.

What is the history of the Yule log Why was it invented?

Lighting the Yule log was a symbol of the sun’s return after the winter solstice. Families believed that the log would protect their homes from fire and lightning—in some cultures, families kept the remaining burned log underneath the homeowner’s bed.

What is Yule log mostly known for?

“The ceremonial burning of the Yule log came to symbolize the Christian vision of good versus evil,” Ace Collins writes in Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas. “As the fire grew brighter and burned hotter, and as the log turned into ashes, it symbolized Christ’s final and ultimate triumph over sin.”

Where did the Yule log cake originate?

The Christmas practice calls for burning a portion of the log each evening until Twelfth Night (January 6). The log is subsequently placed beneath the bed for luck, and particularly for protection from the household threats of lighting and, with some irony, fire.

What does yule mean to pagans?

Yule is the Pagan and Wiccan celebration of the winter solstice that is celebrated every December. The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, and it heralds the daylight hours growing longer again.

Who invented yule log?

The cake emerged in the 19th century, probably in France, before spreading to other countries. It is traditionally made from a genoise, generally baked in a large, shallow Swiss roll pan, iced, rolled to form a cylinder, and iced again on the outside.

Is Yule Log Pagan?

The tradition of yule logs has its roots in pagan rituals. Northern Europeans, like Vikings, celebrated the Festival of Yule to honor the winter solstice by journeying into the woods in search of a hearty oak tree. The event was a family affair, with family members venturing out in search of a choice cut of wood.

Why is Yule 12 days?

The Yule log was a whole tree meant to be burned for 12 days in the hearth. The Celts believed the sun stood still during the winter solstice. They thought by keeping the Yule log burning for these 12 days encouraged the sun to move, making the days longer.

How is Yule celebrated?

Yule is celebrated for twelve days, starting on the Winter Solstice. During the twelve days of Yule, crops are harvested to make a meal, trees are decorated with pinecones, foliage, and candles and gifts are exchanged with love ones. The Yule Log is also decorated with candles and berries which gets placed on an altar.

What is a buche de Noel commonly eaten in France at Christmas?

Traditionally, a bûche de Noël, which literally means “Christmas log” in French, is a sponge cake and buttercream roulade that is modeled after the Yule log. The chocolate frosting is scored to resemble bark and the cake is typically embellished with exquisite meringue mushrooms, marzipan holly, and berries.

How is a yule log made?

How do you Make a Yule Log? Making a yule log is quite simple. A quick sponge cake is made in a jelly roll (Swiss roll) pan, then filled with cream, cut and decorated to look like a log.

What is the difference between yule and Christmas?

Christmas can refer to December 25 itself, but it can also refer to the whole Christmas season. Yule can work the same way: yule can refer to both Christmas and the broader Christmas season, which can also be called yuletide.

Why do people eat a cake shaped as a log?

Fire places became smaller and smaller, and cities bigger and bigger, making this tradition quite unease to respect. Logs burned in fireplaces were replaced by even smaller, sometimes decorated, placed as a table centerpiece. It is then that started to appear cakes with the shape of a wood log, even imitating bark.

What is the difference between a yule log and a Swiss roll?

The main difference between yule log and swiss roll is their appearance. Yule logs are made to resemble Yule logs that are burned on the Christmas eve while Swiss rolls are just cylindrical cakes with a spiral cross-section.