Yule Better Watch Out
Traditions are grand; they encompass us with a rich blend of
history and relationships. However, some can be just downright …well, silly. I
did a little research about the Yule Log and found out some interesting facts,
which may just surprise you. Before I get into specifics of the Yule Log
itself, it seems that most of these legends started in lands where cold and ice
rule the landscape for months on end. I’m only suggesting that combined with
the long months in darkness, the cold can play a few games with your mind. This
for me explains many of the wacky Yule time folklore stories.
From Iceland
comes the disturbing tale of the giant…Yule Cat. This terrible feline is ready
to make meow mix out of any lazy townsfolk, especially those who might have
been less than ambitious in helping the town prepare for the long winter.
Perhaps they were put in charge of the litter box, (a rather large litter box
at that), and lost all motivation, who can blame them? However, slothful
citizens in Iceland
were not alone in their peril; it seems that poor people were also at risk to
fall prey to this very picky Yule Cat. For if it found you outside with old
clothes on, you were a goner as well! Poorly dressed lazy folk were a high risk
target for sure.
This is the real reason all grandmothers give new socks and
underwear every Christmas, its anti-Yule Cat protection for their grandkids.
After all, no self-respecting Nana is going to risk losing one of her own to
some oversized Garfield
because of old underwear. The Yule Cat legend may also explain why the dog
became man’s best friend. A family dog may eat all your food in your house but
at least not members of your household.
The Yule Log originates from some ancient Scandinavian
festivals and the Vikings did their bit for history by spreading it around Europe through their many raids. Can you imagine Eric the
Red saying, “Here you go, we just raided your town and took all your stuff but
we left you this Yule Log gig.” I think the modern day equivalent would be the
holiday fruitcake, which I believe is flammable and could be used as a Yule log
in a pinch, but I digress.
Tradition states that after choosing a large log in the
forest, it was decorated with ribbons and carried back to the village. It was
customary for anyone meeting the procession on its trip home, to raise his or
her hat in respect. Why the log would need such a greeting or honor is beyond
me. However, if you wanted an excuse from observing such a custom, you only
needed to be a barefoot woman or have flatfeet. A 4F rating that no doubt, kept
many a fine young person from serving in the Yule Log burning service corps.
Through the years the legend grew in popularity and changed
a bit. It was believed by many to be unlucky to buy a Yule log. The real lucky
ones were found on one's own land or from a neighbor's wood. This, for the
neighbor trying to find his own Yule log, was not so lucky. People even saved a
fragment from the previous year’s log to use to ignite the new one. The
homeowner would keep this under the bed to keep the house safe from fire and
lightning (and perhaps Yule dust bunnies). Not lighting the log on the first
try was a sign of misfortune (watch out for the Yule Cat) and touching it with
dirty hands was a sign of disrespect. This early version of the Duraflame log
would have to burn unattended for 12 straight hours, but at least you got to
eat during this time. Although people were distracted from eating their meal,
since you had to carefully study the shadows cast on the wall by the Yule log
fire. A “headless” shadow was not good news for the person casting the shadow.
A groundhog moment like this one supposedly foretold the death of said person
within the year.
Here in America
we have dispelled the myths of this long ago legend by reducing the Yule log to
an appearance online. You don’t have to hunt for one (except maybe for web surfing), there are no wall shadows to worry about while you are chowing down.
More importantly, the internet could care less about your flatfeet.
Every Christmas I learn something new and surprising. The
memories, the stories and traditions, collectively add to the discovery process
I go through each year. It wasn’t always so, but God has faithfully showed me
the right attitude to dive into at Christmastime.
It happened this way…
Over 2000 years ago, in a small Hebrew town, something more
powerful than tradition rocked the world. Celebrating His birth does more than
change the way I “do” Christmas, it transforms the way I am, the “who” I am. Because
of that God injection into humanity, all the stories, memories and traditions
become richer in our lives. Let’s enjoy the festivities with the focus on a
Savior that came to give us so much more.
Yule love it!
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel
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