Yule log

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 Yule Log

            The custom of burning the yule log began long ago.  The Scandinavians burned a huge log once a year in honor of their God, Thor. After they became Christians, they made the yule log an important part of their Christmas ceremonies. The word yule came to mean Christmas. In some countries lively ceremonies accompanied the custom of dragging the great log into the house. It was considered good luck to keep an unburned part of the log to use to light the next year's yule log. The unburned part was believed to protect the home from lightning and fire during the year.

             Today many people burn a special log on Christmas Eve.  Often they decorate the log with ribbons or bows.  Some people use decorated logs as table centerpieces, often with candles that can be burned instead of the log.

This page was created for

Ross Elementary School

Last updated: 12/12/07