Burning Yule log is an ancient ritual which was originally a Nordic tradition and also a name of winter solstice festival celebrated in some parts of northern Europe. Later in the fourth century AD, when Christmas celebrations came into existence, the Yule log tradition continued relating fire with the light of great Savior. This popular custom is followed around the world, but is done in different ways in different countries with the usage of different kind of materials as logs. While oak log is used in England, Scotland employs birch log and France uses cherry log. Large bunch of Ash twig is used in Devon and Somerset whereas in some part of Ireland big candles are used instead, which are only lit on New Year's Eve or the twelfth night. On Christmas Eve, a big log is brought into the house with all the merriment and is then set on fire. However, it is never burnt completely and some part of the holy log is kept aside for the next year. Almost everywhere in the world, the new fire of Yule Log is started with that bit of the last year's log, to symbolize continuity and the eternal light of heaven. Apart from the tradition of burning Yule log, there is another tradition which involves eating of Yule log. To know in details the good and bad omens of Yule log, read through the following lines.
Good & Bad Omens Of Yule Log
Know about some of the pagan
superstitions related to Yuletide and Yule log. These good and bad
omens related to Yule log are interesting enough to read.
Yule Log Superstitions
- Yule logs should never be bought.
- Once lit, the Yule log must burn all through the Twelve days of Christmas otherwise bad luck would visit the household.
- Any difficulty in lighting the Yule log was taken as a bad omen for the year ahead.
- Yule logs were burnt on the Christmas fire and many people kept a piece on the log from the previous year as a lucky talisman.
- It is extremely unlucky if the Yule log is touched by a barefooted woman or a squint eyed man.
- A flat-footed visitor to the house whilst the Yule log is burning is a bad omen too.
- Ashes were also placed at the roots of fruit trees and vines to help them bear a good harvest.
- The log brought good luck. Any pieces that were kept protected a house from fire, or lightning, or hail. Ashes of the log would be placed in wells to keep the water good.
- In England the log was supposed to burn for the twelve days of Christmas, from Christmas Eve on December 24th to Epiphany on January 6th.
- The log also predicted bad luck. If the fire went out before the night was through, tragedy would strike the home in the coming year.
- If its flame cast someone's shadow without a head, supposedly that person would die within the year.