The Yule Log

There's a chill in the air today and it has brought my thoughts around to the tradition of the Yule Log. Can anything really replace the homey feeling of a lovely scented, cracking fire on a cool winter's eve?

The Yule Log seems to be yet another idea Christians borrowed from the ancient Germanic people's worship of trees. Then again, didn't everyone burn logs to keep warm back in the day?

They did if they could afford it. But times changed. Large hearths became wood stoves became furnaces in the basement. And Yule logs became yummy dessert centerpieces.

Now you can buy a DVD and burn your Yule log on the TV or via the web on your computer or even your mp3 device. Fred Thrower, a TV programming director introduced the idea of a video Yule log in 1966 for people who did not have a fireplace.

The Yule Log on Youtube



Fireplaces have madea comeback in recent years. According to the National Association of Home Builders, more than half the homes in the U.S. now have a fireplace.

Because fireplaces were out of fad for a while, a lot of people do not know how to properly use one. And there are things you MUST know. Remember the chimney sweeps of England. They existed for a reason.

Chimneys should be inspected yearly. Dampers should be opened before lighting and not closed again until the last ash is cooled.

A fireplace is not a toy or a game. Keep kids out with screens and consider whether your children are old enough to be around a lit fire.

By the way, a fireplace is not a barbeque, either. Burning charcoal in the fireplace can be deadly.

There is a reason "the stockings were hung by the chimney with care". Anything dangling in the path of sparks can be toast before St. Nick gets a chance to fill it.

I am not an expert. If you plan to light a fire indoors, I strongly recommend you search the web for fireplace safety. Even if you think you know it all, it wouldn't hurt to refresh your knowledge.