Legends: Origins of the Yule Log
Ce gâteau délicieux, la bûche de Christmas, remonte à une très ancienne coutume qui existait dans plusieurs pays d’Europe, vers la fin de la période médiévale. En effet, on plaçait dans l’âtre une bûche qui devait brûler constamment du 24 décembre jusqu’au Nouvel An. Ce geste s’apparentait aux célébrations païennes dédiées au solstice d’hiver
On devait couper une large bûche de bois dur ou même une souche complète provenant, idéalement, d’un arbre fruitier de son jardin. Ladite bûche devait avoir été prélevée avant que le soleil ne se lève. On la décorait de rubans avant de l’installer dans le foyer.
In France, the number of logs placed in the hearth had to correspond to the number of people living in the house. The head of the family would bless the hearth with salt water or sometimes with a little wine.
Since tradition dictated that the log should not be touched with such an instrument, it had to be handled with one's hands...with great care. If the fire produced sparks, it meant that the next summer's harvest would be good. If silhouettes appeared on the walls, it was believed that a member of the family would die during the year.
The ashes were always kept to make certain ointments to treat certain pathologies, to fertilize the earth and ward off storms.
It is in honor of this ritual that the Christmas log has transformed, over time, into a tasty dessert that a French pastry chef is said to have created in 1945.
