The Yule Log Is A Christmas Tradition

The yule log is a Christmas tradition and believed to have origins in historical Germanic paganism and was practiced across northern Europe before Christianisation.

Henry Bourne, an English historian, described the practice in his writings as occurring in the Tyne Valley in the 1720's.

James George Frazer, in his work on anthropology, contended that "the ancient fire festival of the winter soltice appears to survive" in the yule log custom. Frazer noted traditions from France, England central Germany and western Switzerland.

Robert Chambers in his "Book of Days" from his 1832 work says that "two popular observances belonging to Christmas are more especially derived from the worship of our pagan ancestors--the hanging of the mistletoe and the burning of the yule log".

Fairy fire can easily be made. Yule logs wooden blocks, newspaper logs, pine cones, and sawdust can be treated to burn in many colors. There are several commercial products which produce colored flames when burned. Some of them can be bought at the drugstore or hardware store and some are common kitchen substances like salt and borax. The following chemicals may be used:


Borax--Vivid green flame
Barium Nitrate--Apple green flame
Copper nitrate--Emerald flame
Potassium nitrate (salt)--Yellow flame
Lithium chloride--Purple flame
Strontium nitrate--Red flame
Potassium chlorate--Violet flame
Calcium chloride--Orange flame
Copper sulphate--blue flame

The first step in treating is to obtain a suitable container. It should be a wooden tub, glass, crockery, or porcelain utensil. Do not use a metal container unless you are planning to throw it away. .Rubber gloves are recommended as many of the chemicals will stain your hands. Unused chemicals should be sealed or thrown away. .Do not dispose of the chemicals through the plumbing system The chemicals are safe to use, as directed, but should be kept out of reach of small children and pets.

YULE LOGS: Rolled newspapers, wooden blocks or small logs may be used. To make newspaper rolls, old newspapers (including colored sections) and other absorbent paper are rolled compactly to form logs 16 inches long, or less. Tie each with heavy twine, not too tightly; and soak in the following solution: Dissolve 5 lbs. bluestone (copper sulphate) and 3 lbs. rock salt in 8 gallons of water. Soak 3 or 4 weeks, turning them end over end frequently. Do not place too many papers in a roll as they swell. After soaking logs, let dry thoroughly. One log in an open fire place will burn a long time, throwing out rainbow colors. They may be wrapped in Christmas paper as gifts.

Logs may also be soaked in a solution of 1 b. of chemical to 1 gallon water.

RAINBOW PINE CONES: After obtaining a supply of dry pine cones, prepare soaking solution in either a wooden tub or earthen crock. Dissolve the chemical (color desired) in water, a ratio of one pound of chemical to one gallon of water. Place cones in a cloth mesh bag and immerse in solution. Remove cones after soaking 10 minutes, allow to drain over the container for a few minutes, then spread on newspapers to dry over night. When dry they are ready to use. The treated cones can be placed in attractive bags as gifts. For variety, mix cones treated with different chemicals in the same bag.

COLORED SAWDUST FIRE: To make a facsimile of store-bought fire, just mix your solution with 1 1/4 pounds shellac, added to sawdust.