What is a Yule Log?

Illustration of the Yule Log from the
Book of Days by Robert Chambers
1832 England

Another old time Christmas tradition that we usually hear mentioned in Christmas poems and songs is the Yule Log. When some of us hear the word, the first thing that pops to mind is that it must be some type of burning log in a fireplace, while others who would hear this definition would laugh heartily and tell you that its a delicious festive sponge cake filled with jellies and topped with chocolate icing and other confections. 

Well, fact is they would both be right! 

And its nearly impossible to determine what came first.

The Burning Yule Log.

Let's start with the definition of a Yule Log as a festive burning log.  Historical references to the act of burning a log start in pre-Christian Europe.  Historian Henry Bourne writes as a theory that the burning of the a large log can be traced back to 6th or 7th Century by Pagan-Anglo-Saxons, and was probably a part of an elaborate ceremony to celebrate the arrival of the Winter Solstice.

It is not surprising that the early fathers of the Christian Church borrowed many customs and components of celebrations conducted by pagans, druids and pre-Christian religions. And it was a brilliant move because after all - it made the conversion to Christianity far more acceptable to people.  It was much easier to take these pagan festivities and rebrand them with Christian principles and symbolism.  Moreover, the early Church fathers seemed to understand human nature much better than we sometimes do today - instead of replacing existing rituals and upsetting the applecart, they merely incorporated them within the Christian Holiday, and carefully established Christian definitions for their practices. 

It's likely that the term Yule derived from the pagan Winter Soltice celebration Jol which was celebrated in honor of the Norse God, Jolnir also referred to as Odin in certain regions. Jolnir was celebrated as the God of Death, drink and ecstasy, amongst other things. Eventually Jol was pronounced Jule .  The specifics of the festivals involved drinking, and the pleasing of spirits known as Yuleghosts. 
Over time, the lighting of the Yule spread across European Continent and was adapted by many.  In England, the first reference to the burning of the "Christmas Log" was written by Rev Robert Herrick in 1620 where wrote that the Log (likely a tree) was brought into the farmhouse by a group of men who were paid for their services by receiving a small beer from the Farmer's wife.  What is also interesting about the entry is that he states that as part of the ritual, that the remnants of the previous year's log were used to start the new one which indicates that this was likely a regular tradition.

Herrick further mentions that purpose of the Log is to bring prosperity and protect the home from evil.  The remnants of the log were kept in the house as to maintain the magic of the log all year long. In fact, participants of the Yule festivities would often cut a piece of the Yule which served as a magical amulet.

The Yule Log was also said to bring good health, protection from witchcraft, keeping animals free of disease, keep streams and ponds clean, and even possesses the magic of fertility.  It seems that the Yule Log has a little something for everyone desiring one benefit or another. 

Strangely, the term Jule evolved to Yuletide and is part of the modern day Christmas lexicon.  Yuletide is referenced in Christmas Poems and Carols (including Bing Crosby's often heard Happy Holidays) still seen and heard today.  And going out on a limb, I believe this is likely due to a period of historical revival that took place in the early 1900s which brought back many older traditions that once again became joined with traditions that were currently practiced.

The long standing tradition of buring the large tree sized Christmas Yule on a regular basis finally diminished in the 19th century, and according to author Ronald Hutton this because of the reduction in farm labor, and the replacement of open hearths with cast iron stoves and smaller fireplaces.  The Yule still found its way to remain part of the Christmas tradition - but often as it does today - as a decoration or centerpiece on a table, covered with flowers, holly, aromatic spices, and greenery.

While the English burned their Yule Log, the French had other designs for a similar named Christmas tradition.

Yule Logs in France and Quebec
 Borrowing from my friends at Foodtimeline.org, they quote the following translation for a Yulelog:

Buche de Noel

"Christmas Yule Log. A log-shaped cake traditionally prepared for the Christmas festivities. It is usually made of rectangular slices of Genoese sponge, spread with butter cream and placed one on top of the other, and them shaped into a log; it is coated with chocolate butter cream, applied with a piping bag to simulate bark. The cake is decorated with holly leaves made from almond paste, meringue mushrooms and small figures. A Swiss roll (jelly roll) may be used instead of sliced Genoese cake. There are also ice cream logs, some made entirely of different flavoured ice creams and some with the inside made of parfait or a bombe mixture. This cake is a fairly recent creation (after 1870) of the Parisian pastrycooks, inspired by the real logs which used to be burned in the hearth throughout Christmas Eve. Before then, the cakes of the season were generally brioches or fruit loaves."
---Larousse Gastronomique, Completely Revised and Updated [Clarkson Potter:New York] 2001 (p. 299)

Again borrowing from The Food Timeline webpage, here is a recipe for a Yule Log based on a 1962 recipe that you can try on your own:

Yule Log (Buche de Noel)
The yule log cake is served at the midnight feast that follows Mass on Christmas Eve. Although it does not take the place of our flaming Christmas pudding, it makes a nice dessert to serve at any time during the Christmas season.

4 egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons melted butter. 3 eggwhites
Chocolate Butter Cream 1
1 teaspoon instant coffee
1 teaspoon hot water
2 or 3 blanched almonds
angelica
candied cherries
green sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Rinse the mixing bowl with hot water and wrap a hot wet towel around the base. Combine the egg yolks and sugar and beat for 5 minutes or until the mixture has doubled in volume. Fold in the flour and then the butter, which should be cooled. Fold in the beaten egg whites gently but thoroughly.
Butter a small, rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan (10X14) and dust it with flour. Pour the batter into the pan and smooth it evenly with a knife. Bake 10 minutes. Spread a damp towel on a marble slab or table. Run a knife around the edge of the baked cake and turn the pan upside down on the towel, leaving the pan on top of the cake until it is cool. Make the butter cream, using 5 egg yolks, and add to it the dissolved instant coffee. Spread the cake with the butter cream and roll it up lengthwise like a jelly roll. Place seam side down on a long serving tray and cut off both ends diagonally. Put the remaining butter cream in a pastry bag fitted with a flat cannellated tip. Force the cream lengthwise over the surface of the cake to give the appearance of bark. Place a 'knot' here and there. Decorate the cake with almonds and a sprig of holly made with strips of angelica and little rounds of candied cherries. Sprinkle very lightly with green sugar."
---The Complete Tante Marie's French Kitchen, Translated and adapted by Charlotte Turgeon [Oxford University Press:New York] 1962 (p. 127-8)

One final bit of trivia is that the Yule Log is usually consumed after Christmas Midnight Mass after a feast called Le Reveillon. 

Finally, as with most established European traditions, these Christmas practices made their way to America via immigrants who arrived from the Old World.  The traditions spread within the communities in which they were practiced and enjoyed to become part of the American Christmas experience.

So whether you eat, or burn your own Yule Log (or simply watch it on your cable television Yule Log channel), you'll know a little more this Christmas about its origins to share with your friends and family.