The History of the Yule Log

One of the beliefs in Nordic times was that Thor would not strike burnt wood with his thunder.  This is one of the reasons the last remaining piece of the yule log was kept and stored under the bed until it was brought out for the next year.  But a more touching reason was that by connecting the Yule Log in this way from generation to generation also connected all of the memories a family would make in front of the fire.  The Hearth was one of the most sacred places in the home, and a special fire like the Yule Log, with all the stories that came with it, would help connect the family with their past, both recent and ancient.

The Yule Log remained a popular Christmas tradition until modern indoor heating changed the need for a roaring fireplace.  In time the French introduced the Yule Log Cake as a popular substitute, while others chose to decorate their homes with a smaller log, sometimes with holed drilled in for taper candles.

Many blog posts mention how in the deep south, work was slow on the plantations, and all slaves would get a vacation as long as the Yule Log burned.  It was the slaves themselves who had the honor of picking the tree out and bringing it in.  So it was in their best interest to find the largest, wettest tree they could find and maybe even drag it through a ditch on the way to the house if they could get away with it.  There was a popular saying that something was as "wet as a Christmas log".  It's heartbreaking to think that one's vacation would be dependent on finding a big tree branch, but it was still a joyful time for them as they looked forward to socializing freely among themselves.

An alternative the yule log was the ashen faggot.  Branches from an ash tree, preferably the same one, were bundled together with nine rings holding them together.  The video below is slow and perhaps a little boring, but it illustrates just how big these bundles could be, and shows the folksy feel the burning would have with music and socializing.  It's certainly more entertaining than a lot of Yule Log videos out there at least!   Like the yule log, traditionally the ashen faggot would be started with the remains of the previous year's faggot.

The funniest variation I stumbled across is the Poop Log from Western Spain.  One brings in the log on December 8th, feeding it nuts and fruit to fatten it up.  Then on Christmas Eve, you cover it with a warm blanket and sing a song to it, telling it to poop out candies and presents, all while children take turns beating it with a stick.  When the blanket is removed, there are presents underneath.  I mean, everyone's got to do Christmas their own way, right?

When I first decided that I was going to make a Yule Log Cake, I was very intimidated by the idea, but I loved the tradition behind it so much I knew I needed to try.  I spent a few days watching several YouTube videos and reading recipes trying to get a feel for how to do it.  Sponge cake?  Rolling it up?  In the end, it was time consuming, not going to lie, but it was also much easier than I thought it would be.  The chocolate ganache frosting is very forgiving and hides a lot of cracks that may sneak into the cake.  I bought a mesh tea strainer especially for the sugar-powdered "snow" that really brings out the texture of the bark.  The most helpful tutorial I found was from Joy of Baking, although I cheated in subsequent cakes and used a cake mix for part of it.  Meringue mushrooms are fairly easy to make too, but they are also time consuming, so if you decide to make them, I suggest doing them ahead of time.  I also recommend NOT storing them in the fridge with the cake like I did the first time.  Store them in a dry place and add them to the cake right before serving.  I didn't have a frosting pipe, so these mushrooms were made with a gallon-sized zip-lock bag with a hole cut out of the corner.  They didn't look as uniform, but neither do real mushrooms.  I used the same tea strainer to sprinkle cocoa powder on the top, which really made them look more real.  I really think this special treat is worth the extra effort to bake.  It was a smashing hit at all the parties I've brought one to, for the look, it's exquisite taste, and the fun history behind it.

Yule logs have such a rich history, both in it's mystical, mostly unknown pre-Christian roots, through it's variations, and on through modern times, surviving as a dessert and YouTube sensation.  I suppose baking a cake is far easier than dragging in a gigantic log and finding a way to burn it while keeping the house from burning down with it.  In the end, both can lead to warm and enchanting Christmas memories with your family, and that is a fitting way to remember Christmases long, long ago.

Further Reading

• Weird Christmas- The Yule Log
• The History of the Yule Log (simple post, but chosen for the science experiment idea of putting different chemicals on the log to make it burn different colors.  With adult supervision, of course!)
• How to Make a Yule Log (Chosen for it's suggestions for alter use if interested.  It's worthy of note here that while Yule Logs have special significance for many Pagans since it hearkens to pre-Christian times, Yule Logs have been a huge part of *Christian* Christmas traditions too, literally for centuries.  There are many Christian legends about yule logs and ashen faggots, such as Mary burning ash wood while she bathed Jesus to keep him warm.  Regardless of one's faith, there is plenty to draw from to make the Yule Log special for your own traditions.)
  
• Yule Log Tutorial (This one is a more craftsy, hands-on post.)
  
• Easy Yule Log Craft (Something easy, cute and fast for the kids, although, it being 2020, maybe empty toilet paper rolls may be hard to come by...)