Stories, legends, myths - The burning of the Christmas log

Although we all seem to celebrate Christmas the same, with trees, lights, balloons and gingerbread, each country has its own traditions and customs. Some of them go way back to the beginning of Christianity and sometimes even to pre-Christian times. One such custom is the burning of the log at Christmas or throughout the winter holidays. The custom comes from the Nordic countries, practically from the Scandinavian Peninsula, and the log is called Yule, the old name for festivals during the winter solstice. We find this custom in many European countries, even in our part of Banat, but in each country there are specific elements.

Originally, the log was actually a whole tree that was brought into the house with great pomp and placed with the thick end in the fire. It was to burn every day for 12 days, from Christmas Eve to Epiphany. The fire had to be lit with leftovers from the previous year's log and the person lighting it had to have clean hands. Nowadays, because it is difficult to bring and burn a tree in the house, the custom has changed.

In France it is customary for the whole family to help cut a cherry log into small pieces that are put on the fire every night for 12 days. What remains is kept in the house until the following year to protect the house from lightning and thunder. Sometimes the wood put on the fire is sprinkled with wine to spread a pleasant aroma.

In some parts of the Netherlands it is the same custom, but the leftovers are hidden under a bed until next year to protect the house and its inhabitants all year round.

In the UK (Cornwell) the log is called "The Mock". It is dried first and the peel is removed before being put on the fire. It is customary for barrel makers to give customers as a gift a piece of wood to be burnt on Christmas night. In England oak is the wood burnt on Christmas Eve, and in Scotland birch is used.

In Devon and Somerset, instead of burning a log, they burn a big pile of ash branches. This custom comes from a local legend which says that on Christmas Eve, shepherds discovered Joseph and Mary freezing cold and quickly lit bundles of twigs to warm them.

Even before the custom of decorating the tree was adopted, there was the ritual of burning the oak log, symbolizing the burning of the past. In the fire and in the sparks that leapt, the signs of the new year were read. The remaining ashes were scattered on the fields for a rich harvest. This custom has disappeared, replaced by the custom of decorating the tree, and the sparks that leapt from the stump were replaced by candles and, later, candle lights. But the Serbs in Banat still keep it. They celebrate Christmas according to the old ritual, and on the eve of Christmas Eve, 6 January, they burn a young oak tree trunk called Badnjak in the oven of the house or in the churchyard. It is said that the more sparks, the richer the year will be.

The ashes left over from the Christmas log burning are put on plants or spread on the field. But it is a sign of great misfortune if this ash is thrown away on Christmas Day.

The custom of burning logs has also given rise to a culinary custom. One of the cakes served at the Christmas table is the Yule log, a roll made from a thin pancake with cocoa and cream. The roll is covered with chocolate or chocolate ice cream and decorated to resemble the bark of a tree.

Now, in many families, the custom is reduced to a symbol. The Christmas table has a piece of wood in the centre, in which candles are placed,

or the decorated wood is placed in front of the fireplace and kept there all 12 days of the feast.