Anyone looking for their Yulelog?

[Gotte]

In times long gone, the inhabitants of forest used to bring a log into their homes to burn on Christmas day. It was used to bring good luck to the household for the following year. I believe it was one of those pagan festivals which long endured after a general conversion to Christianity.
Every year I like to go down to the woods and get a log to burn. I like the tradition of the thing. We only have a wood burning stove, so the log tends to be quite small, but in past times they used to bring really large logs - two man affairs. They'd obviously get it a while before to allow it to dry out.
Don't just get any old log,though. You have to wander until you see one that you know is the one for you.

 

[Shambling Shaman]

I have my eyes open for are Yule log which will be burned on Yule (21st Dec) Winter Solstice

 

[PaulSanderson]

Gotte you are right it is a pagan custom. It was given as gift from one household to another, to keep the hearth warm, to cook with and to bring light into that families home, normally on widwinter/solstive (21st). I have me a beauty just seasoning as we speak....

 

[Gotte]

I saw a great programme - tales from the Green Valley, where they recreated farming in 16th/17th Century. They collected a giant Yule Log to burn at Christmas. It was a huge thing which burned beautifully. The food was wonderful, as well. Not the gruel you'd expect from those times, but meat, meat and more meat along with pastries, pies, dumplings fruit and beer. Apart from the early death, disease and hard, hard work, it must have been a wonderful way to live.

I've still got to go down the woods. I'm looking forward to it, though.

So winter solstice, you say. We'll actually be away for Christmas, so 21st it will be.

 

[PaulSanderson]

lol the food by all account was great...infact so great, that in well-to-do and aristocratic circles it was considered a status symbol if you had gout!

 

[Gotte]

If you get a chance to see the series, watch it. It's really good. There's only one clip on Youtube, unfortunately:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxtbCufq58U