It's dark and cold but not rainy this week in Seattle. In fact we have a string of bright, dry days coming up, although the daylight hours are brief and the nights long. Spring seems a lifetime away, but soon we'll turn the corner at the winter solstice December 22.Yuletime is a winter festival that was celebrated by pagan Germanic people and later absorbed into Christmas, which was placed on December 25 when the Julian calendar was adopted. At the time when we celebrate the birth of Christ, the Earth turns herself again towards light, warmth, food and life. It was believed that one's behavior in the times of Yule determined the good fortune of the whole household. It all fits together. Better watch out, Santa Claus is coming to town.
Collecting the yule log-- 1832 illustration.
The Yule log was originally an entire tree. It was carefully chosen and brought into the house with great ceremony. The largest end of the log would be placed into the fire hearth while the rest of the tree stuck out into the room. Messy. In modern times, the yule tradition is still carried on by burning the largest log possible at or around Christmas. At this house, that would be the duraflame John lights in the fireplace on Christmas morning.
I wonder if the attention to good behavior during the Yule season was a remedy for cabin fever during those shortest and coldest days of the year when the whole family was trapped inside the house? I'm just sayin'. . .
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