The story of the yule log

I am not referring to those log-shaped chocolate cakes, however, even if they are sold under the guise of yule logs.

I mean real pieces of wood, nice chunky logs which adorn one's open fire to produce a wonderful glow of cheery warmth over the Christmas

period.

Most of us agree that a bright log fire adds a special and very atmospheric touch to the home at Christmas and there is plenty of choice so far as suitable timbers are concerned, but a yule log is something extra-special.

It is part of a custom which has its origins in the distant past; in fact, no one is really sure when the practice began, but it seems to have been adopted by everyone, rich and poor, old and young, town or country, in this country and overseas.

The idea is to place the specially-selected log on the open fire on Christmas Eve, and it should be ignited with a piece of last year's yule

log.

It should be large enough to smoulder throughout Christmas Day, but the act of igniting it is accompanied by lots of merrymaking, drinking and revelry and, in some cases, it was done at midnight.

Once lit, the log should be allowed to smoulder gently throughout Christmas Day and it was always considered unlucky if the fire was allowed to go out that day.

Exactly when the log was allowed to go out is a matter for debate; it appears that some yule logs were kept burning, most probably by the addition of others, until New Year's Day, although it seems most were allowed to die away on Boxing Day.

In some cases, the log was ignited only at one end and replaced in the hearth every evening until it was entirely consumed by Twelfth Night (January 5).

What was important, however, was that an unburnt portion had to be kept because this was required the following year.

This became the faggot which was used to ignite next year's yule log and many people would store this remnant under the bed in the belief it protected the house against fire and lightning.

The ashes left by the burnt log were also considered lucky if they were spread upon the ground, both bringing fertility to the soil and protecting cattle against disease.

Some even thought they prevented toothache and chilblains.

Selecting one's yule log is not easy. In the past, the size of one's grate dictated the size of the log, but inevitably the choice was the largest possible log that the grate could accommodate, if necessary

protruding beyond the fire dogs at each side.

In very large houses, complete tree trunks were used, these being selected some weeks before Christmas, so they would be sufficiently dry when required, but in more modest homes, much smaller logs were acceptable.

Collecting the log was often accompanied by a ritual of some kind.

In the case of a large log for a mansion, a team of servants would haul it from the woodland and into the house by using lots of ropes.

In France, the entire family would go out to fetch home the yule log, invariably from a fruit tree.

The wood of fruit trees tends to give off a very pleasant smell, although the Scots preferred silver birch - in this case, they would strip off the bark and use the bare log.

In another case, I heard of a family going out to carry home the log with the eldest child at the front and the youngest taking up the rear.

Carols were sung as the log was borne home and, when it arrived, the youngest child poured wine over it, and then it was placed on the hearth and ignited in the traditional manner with a piece

of last year's yule log.

On the continent, it seems children took a greater part than one might expect in this country.

In some areas, the prettiest girl in the village was seated on the log and her health drunk by everyone present; in other cases, a rough figure of a man or child was chalked onto the log before it was burnt, this probably being the survival of some ancient human sacrifice, whereas, in many areas, the children placed Christmas presents around the yule log before it was consigned to the fire.

In some English mansions, it was a rule that any maid who touched the yule log should wash her hands before doing so, otherwise it would never burn properly.

With small fireplaces, few of us can cope with a huge log and so we make do with smaller pieces.

In fact, at Ripon, coopers would dispose of surplus knotty blocks of wood by giving them away as small yule logs, and further north in mining areas, large chunks of coal were utilised.

But if we wonder when it all began, it is said the custom is a survival from the days of the Norsemen.

They burnt their yule logs in honour of the god

Thor and were the wood of the mighty oak.

But if our fireplaces are too small, or we don't have a grate, we can always buy chocolate logs!

Updated: 12:32 Wednesday, December 10, 2003