Thursday 22 December 2016

Bûche de Noël.


                                Résultat de recherche d'images pour "yule log"

There are several differing traditions about the annual burning of a Yule Log; this is ours.

Firstly the log must find you; not you find it. It must look up at you and say "take me home". It mustn't be looked for, as such.

The log (large or small) must be pampered, dressed with ribbons, and burned on Christmas Eve. It must burn right through to the last ash; even a tiny un-consumed remaining piece of the log would be seen as unfortunate, so the log should be dry.


This is our log.



25 comments:

  1. I didn't know most of that! But as we haven't got a fireplace or a log burner ( just radiators...how sad is that?) why would I.

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    1. I think it's very much a countryside tradition.

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  2. ps Never been first to comment on your blog before....did you have a lie in?

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  3. I think this is the second post for to day Frances:) so unusual for Cro... but a beautiful post.

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  4. I've never heard of this tradition, Cro and I like it! We have a fireplace in our lounge/dinning room (it's an open space area). I should ask my husband to go for a walk in the woods near here...
    Greetings Maria x

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    1. Both the UK and France follow the tradition of Yule Logs, but only out in the country.

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  5. I believe in the UK originally the Yule log was a tree trunk of a log which was put onto the hearth and just pushed further into the fire as it burned. Love your log - that holly will provide a super crackle.

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    1. My illustration suggest pulling a tree trunk back to the house, but you'd need a big fireplace (like ours).

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  6. I didn't know about the tradition of the Yule Log. I will have to wait until Easter!

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    1. I think people have their own method of following the tradition. I think mine is quite classic.

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  7. Thank you for reminding me of this tradition. Even though I have no fireplace, I can still enjoy thinking about this lovely custom.

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    1. Frances, as I said above it's very much a bucolic tradition, but one I follow religiously.

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  8. I love the sound of this tradition..the log finding you. Wish I had a log burner.

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    1. That's the bit I like most about it. Mine looked up at me about 10 days ago.

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  9. Now if you were in Wales all you'd have to do is cut some mistletoe from an oak tree with a golden knife.

    I was recently fined a not too diasagreeable 40 euro for 15 kmh over a 30 kmh limit which I thought didn't apply out of school hours. I didn't get a lot of paper like you. Just a couple of lines and a bank transfer slip. The last time I got a speeding fine was, and I remember it as if it were yesterday, was in my first car a Morris Oxford 1965 for doing 52 mph in a 30 mph zone.

    It was 6 quid. A lot of money in those days.

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    1. Do all Welshmen possess a 'golden' knife? All fines are a pain; I do try to obey the rules, but occasionally....

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  10. That is so lovely Cro .... a beautiful tradition. I've just picked some yew and holly for my mantelpieces..... pretty and free !!!! Haha XXXX

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    1. I like old traditions; wassailing will be the next.

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  11. It all sounds like a marvellous ritual/tradition. I'm (not) on the lookout for our log...who knows. Maybe one of our pile at the front door will fall on my foot tomorrow morning.

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    1. A nice piece of Olive wood would make a fine Yule Log.

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  12. I did not know this. What a charming but also a bit worrying of being careful it all burns !
    Living in the Southwest as close to a Yule log would be the Juniper or Alligator Juniper so fragrant. Mix it with Mesquite Pinion, Pecan, Almond and Olive.

    Have a lovely Holiday.
    cheers, parsnip

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    1. Our fire gets so hot that almost anything burns away in no time. I think we'll be OK.

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