The burning of the Yule log has been around since about the 12^th century. The tradition has certainly evolved over the decades but the true meaning has stayed in tacked. When the tradition of the Yule log first got it starts it was customary for the family to chop down a tree and drag it home. It was expected to find a tree big enough to burn through the twelve days of Christmas. It was usually women or young daughters who would light the tree with splinters from the previous year’s Yule log. The family would gather around the Yule log sing Christmas carols, tell stories, and say special prayers for the upcoming year. While the Yule log was burning family members or servants were not required to work but to enjoy the special time and festivities. The Yule log was said to protect homes from lightning and evil. The Yule log was also a way to burn or release personal faults, mistakes, and bad choices and allowed the individual to have a fresh start in the New Year.

In the 1800’s iron stoves began to replace giant hearths and the Yule log tradition began to change. It was no longer customary
to  burn big logs but to burn smaller ones or to decorate them with festive decorations and candles. Over time chefs created beautiful cakes in the shape of Yule logs.

The Yule log is still a big part of Christmas traditions. Now days you can create your own Yule log and decorate it with burnable ribbons or holiday plants. If you don’t have a fireplace you can watch a Yule log burn on YouTube or you can watch it on some television channels on Christmas.

During this Christmas season all of us at TJ’s Chimney Service would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and many blessings in the coming New Year.