Yule Log
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The ancient European pagan festival, known as YuleY-U-L-Estill exists as part of what we know call the holiday season. The focus of this centuries-old celebration is the Winter Solstice, for Yule observes the annual death and rebirth of the Sun. Hi, I'm Dave Thurlow and this is The Weather Notebook.

Burning the Yule log, something that happens more in Christmas Carols than in real life, but at least its still traditional, comes from pagan rituals. This special log was ignited on the evening before the Winter Solstice with a piece of the previous year's log. Once lit, the celebrations begin, with everyone whooping it up around the fire. The noise and excitement was believed to awaken the sun, halting its annual decline into darkness. I guess it works. The days begin to lengthen shortly thereafter.

The Yule Log was always received as a gift or taken from a tree on family property. Oak was considered the best. It was also important that the Yule log come from the biggest and greenest log available, for the festivities only lasted as long as the log burned. Oak was popular in the north of England but ash, the only wood that burns freely when green, seems to have been the choice in Scandinavia, and still is.

The Yule log's ashes are kept for good luck. They were believed to have magical properties and were scattered in the field to fertilize the soil or sprinkled around the house for protection, particularly from lightning.

The darkest hour is just before dawn, it is said. If so, the celebration of Yule acknowledges this, as the world each year waits the rebirth of the sun.

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