What is the story of the Yule log or Christmas log?
A yule log is a desert that we eat at the end of the Christmas dinner. Especially made in Europe, we are going to see where it comes from.
The creation of the yule log comes from pagan rites.
During the Yule festival on December 21st, the day of the winter solstice, they burnt a log in offering to have good harvests.
The log from a fruit tree is burnt in a fireplace, after being blessed drizzled with oil, cooked wine, salted water, honey, etc.., and had to burn for 3 to 12 days. The embers and ashes were kept to put them around the houses and protect them from evil spirits like lightnings, witches and the devil. It also fertilized the soil.
The yule log used to bring together all the inhabitants of the house.
After the disappearance of fireplaces in modern house, the large logs were replaced by small ones decorated, hollowed out and garnished. They were the first cakes imitating the yule log.
Replaced by a cake in the 19th century, it was popularized after World War Il and became known as the Yule log.
Today, the simple yule log that was made with sponge cake and buttercream, has become a more sophisticated yule log.