In the Jura mountains, Sir James Frazier documented a Yule
log ceremony in the canton of Bern in
which a French song was sung in association with the Yule log.
May the women have children, the sheep lambs!
White bread for everyone and a vat full of wine!”
There are other permutations of these songs including
phrases such as…
Until recently, there were a few
surviving traditional community Yule log lighting ceremonies, even in America,
and these also preserved parts of our ancient European traditions, but they were banned by various Semitic
organizations, which seem never to tire of trying to wipe out European culture..
Nevertheless, the very act of caroling itself, which is our ancient custom, and
songs like “Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly” remind of the real Yule with
their lines, such as “See the blazing yule before us”!
Since the very earliest times, fires
provided safety from wild beasts, a means of cooking and seeing in darkness… and
in a very real sense, served as an extension of the Sun on Earth, even in the
darkest night. For this reason they are associated with knowledge, truth and joy. Traditionally made of a very hard, large,
thick pillar of wood that could burn for
all 12 days of the Jul Feast, the Yule Log must always have been considered a
special gift of the Gods. The great fire of the Yule log imparts the spirit and sacred essence of the tree it is made
from, as do the evergreen branches,
holly, ivy and mistletoe, which have
been carefully gathered and hung to bless homes and temples by our folk since
time immemorial at this holy season of year.
The great blazing tree symbolizes the burning sun,
the spirit of good will and mirth, and the
imminent return of brighter days. It not
only provided warmth and light for revelers, but was thought to have magical properties,
so much so that even when the dark days
of Christianity came, part of the Yule Log still was saved all year long as a protective
talisman and used to light the next year’s fire. These sacred evergreen plants
had great significance and everything found on an oak tree was considered a gift
from the Divine Ones. Even when warring
Viking armies who met under an oak with
the holy mistletoe in its branches the battle would refrain from battle for the remainder
of that day.
In old England, the Yule Log was doused in cider or ale and decorated with
holly or evergreens and ribbons and this can still be done. Those who are
currently unable to burn a giant log sometimes drill candle or tea light
holders into a smaller one. Some kindred sing heathen songs in darkness while the log
is burning and contemplate the coming year or, just as our ancestors did, fling
sprigs of dried holly and then oak twigs into the fire, these last branches
symbolizing the waxing of the Sun, while shouting wishes for the new year.
There is also a tradition of
making a Jul log cake or Bûche de Noël.. For more on this see the upcoming edition of the Odinist Journal FoxFire.
