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David Mingay | all galleries >> Mynd Dagsins '15 >> Photo of the Day 2003 > A pagan tradition
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25-DEC-2003

A pagan tradition

I read about this recently, the tradition of the yule log, which originates in the nordic countries, and came to England around 1066. Maybe some of the nordic Photo-a-Dayers can correct any inaccuracies! It seems people used to go into the forest and cut down a large tree, which was dragged back to the house to be burned in the fireplace. Supposedly it should burn for the 12 days that the solstice was celebrated, and the unburned remains saved to light next years yule log. (12 days? Doesn’t that sound familiar?) I asked Tony, (my sisters husband) if he could spare a log from his private stash, and this picture is the result. Our yule log just about filled our fireplace. It didn’t last 12 days, but it did burn well into the night! Thanks Tony, can we have one for next year too??


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jeanb31-Dec-2003 01:41
I'd love a yule log - or any other - to burn for 12 days. In my house it's more like 12 logs for 1 day.
Pall Gudjonsson26-Dec-2003 17:59
Great image David !
Can't help you verifying the nordic tradition as it does definitely not relate to Iceland - we have never had a decent forest in this country :-(
Guest 26-Dec-2003 12:30
David, this is a wonderful image. All I have here is a gas burning fireplace, and the fake gas logs certainly don't look this great!