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What was a yule log?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

December 27, 2002

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Suggested Reading—>Click here.

Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.

Killer Picks: Wollemi Pine, greatest living fossils discovered in the 20th century—>Click here.

Chestnut, Huckleberry, Florina Apple, Apricot Sugar Pearls, Crisp n' Sweet Pear—>Click here.

The Teutonic peoples inhabited the northern climes surrounding the Baltic and North Seas. In Anglo-Saxon, the month of December was called se ærra geóla; January was se æftera geóla. Geól, gehhol, and gehhel refer to that day when the sun shone weakest and lowest in the sky, the winter-solstice. Related to the Anglo-Saxon geól and probably derived from, were the Icelandic jöl, Danish and German jul, and Gothic jiuleis. Linguistic conjecture links geól with hweól 'wheel' and the 'wheeling' or turning of the sun.

Christmas Custom, the Yule Log Photographic Print
Buy Photographic Print at AllPosters.com

When the Anglo-Saxons settled in Britain, they introduced Teutonic customs—winter-solstice became known as yol or yole and eventually yule in English.

In 1879, R. Chambers wrote of these traditions, "The burning of the Yule log is an ancient Christmas ceremony, transmitted to us from our Scandinavian ancestors, who, at their feast of Juul, at the winter-solstice, used to kindle huge bonfires in honour of their god Thor. The custom, though sadly shorn of the 'pomp and circumstance' which formerly attended it, is still maintained in various parts of the country. The bringing in and placing of the ponderous block on the hearth of the wide chimney in the baronial hall was the most joyous of the ceremonies observed on Christmas eve in feudal times."

Dragging the Yule Log into the Fireplace of a Stately Home in Jacobean England Giclee Print Birket Foster Buy Giclee Print at AllPosters.com

Although people no longer believed in Thor, certain superstitions carried over into Christmas customs. Chambers continued with the care of the yule log: "...the practice of laying aside the half-consumed block after having served its purpose on Christmas eve, preserving it carefully in a cellar or other secure place till the next anniversary of Christmas and then lighting the new log with the charred remains of its predecessor. The due observance of this custom was considered of the highest importance and it was believed that the preservation of last year's Christmas log was a most effectual security to the house against fire." (Chambers's Book of Days, A Miscellany of Popular Antiquities, 1879, J.B. Lippincott and Co.)

Northvegr is dedicated to the literature of Northern European peoples. To learn more about the sagas, folklore, chronicles, and history of Northern Europe, click on the link:

http://www.northvegr.org/lore/main.php

Internal links go to various works of literature. The Eddas are where J.R.R. Tolkien got his ideas (and the names of the dwarves) for the Lord of the Rings.

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens

Springhill Nursery®

Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

Chestnut Tree, Chinese

Henry Fields Seed and Nursery®

Blight-resistant strain.

Densely foliaged and fast-growing, reaches 40-60 ft. Adapts to less-than-ideal growing conditions. Plant two trees for proper pollination.

Bareroot offerings for nut trees provide a great value to you and are more easily introduced into established landscapes. Our bareroot trees are selected and lifted when they are dormant. When you receive them, there will be a small amount of water around the roots but no soil. The roots will be wrapped in plastic to prevent dehydration and then packed in a sturdy cardboard box. Once planted, the roots readily adapt and grow quickly. Zones: 4 - 8 (-20° F.)

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Comments: Medium to large, meaty, crisp nuts. Resistant to chestnut blight. Adapts to less than ideal conditions. Plant in groups of 2 or more for proper cross-pollination. Slow to establish but grows quickly once it's established. Performs well in hot, dry climates. Responds well to fertilization.

Fruit Trees and Nut Trees Catalog - $20 off any order of $50 or more at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery Co!

Apple Tree, Florina

Henry Fields Seed and Nursery®

Four reasons why Florina is the easiest of all apples to grow:

1) Its natural form significantly reduces pruning;

2) It grows well in all soil types;

3) It is one of the most disease-resistant apple trees, so you’ll have good crops with less spraying;

4) Its sparkling fresh flavor is unique among apple trees.

Florina’s sparkling fresh flavor and crispy, juicy-sweet texture is a great selection to plant along with Pixie Crunch. If you try it, you will like it, Guaranteed! Ripens in early October.

Select standards if you have plenty of growing space—or if you plan to stock your shelves with applesauce. The trees grow to 25 ft. tall, bear in 3-6 years and produce 5-10 bushels at maturity.

If you have limited space or simply want a little tree with big benefits, Li’l-BIG is for you. Reaching 6 ft. tall at the most and producing half a bushel of fruit, Li’l-BIGs are a snap to spray, prune and harvest compared to standard size trees. The Lil big tree produces fruit just 16 months after planting and it can be grown in a container. Li’l-BIGs also are grown on specific rootstock which makes them resistant to fire blight, a devastating disease of fruit trees. Zones: 5 - 8 (-10° F.) Click here - $20 off any order of $50 or more at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery Co!

Comments: This is a complex hybrid that was introduced in France. It is annual cropping. Flavor is similar to bubble gum.

Fruit Trees and Nut Trees Catalog - $20 off any order of $50 or more at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery Co!

Apricot Sugar Pearls

Henry Fields Seed and Nursery®

The most heavenly tasting stone fruit you can eat!

Our research farm manager was extremely enthused about discovering the amazing flavor of the new, white-fleshed Sugar Pearls apricot, ''f you could only taste Sugar Pearls right now, you would want to thank me for finding it. Words don’t do justice to the rich, full-bodied, sweet golden-honey flavor of Sugar Pearls. If I could only grow one stone fruit it would be Sugar Pearls!''

(Stone fruits include peaches, nectarines, plums and cherries.)

Sugar Pearls bloom much later than all other varieties – so even if you were too far north to grow apricots before – now’s you’re chance! Self-pollinating. Ripens late June to early July. Click here - $20 off any order of $50 or more at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery Co!

Fruit Trees and Nut Trees Catalog - $20 off any order of $50 or more at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery Co!

Crisp n' Sweet Pear

Henry Fields Seed and Nursery®

The best of both worlds!

Field's Favorite Crisp n' Sweet combines the rich sweetness and juiciness of 'traditional' European pears with the crisp refreshing texture of Asian pears. Crisp n' Sweet has high resistance to fire blight, and unlike most pears, the blossoms are frost tolerant, so you get loads of extra-large fruit every year. Many varieties need to be picked before they are fully ripe and stored in refrigeration to develop peak flavor, but with Crisp n' Sweet there is no guess work – just pluck fresh and sun-ripened from the tree and enjoy! Ripens mid-August. Green Jade cultivar. PPAF. Zones: 5 - 7 (-10° F.)

Click here - $20 off any order of $50 or more at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery Co!

Comments: Tree is very productive and has excellent tolerance to spring frost. Fruit thinning is required (remove fruit to one per cluster at fruit set) and it does not have premature fruit drop.

Fruit Trees and Nut Trees Catalog - $20 off any order of $50 or more at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery Co!

Wollemi Pine

National Geographic®

Exclusively from National Geographic, this survivor from the age of the dinosaurs is one of the greatest living fossils discovered in the 20th century. The Wollemi pine is one of the world's oldest and rarest tree species, belonging to a 200-million-year-old plant family thought to have been extinct for more than two million years.

Previously known only from fossil records, it was presumed extinct until a single tree was found in the Wollemi National Park, Australia, in 1994. Subsequent research discovered 100 adult trees that have survived in a single canyon in this wild and rugged area. Click here to view canyon, trees and fossil record.

You can assist in the conservation effort and enjoy the unique opportunity to ensure the continued survival of this rare species by giving the tree as a gift or growing your own. Suitable for indoor container gardening or as a landscape tree in certain areas of the U.S.

Comes with a care manual with the full story about the discovery and fascinating history of the Wollemi pine. Comes in a copper-colored container and will be approximately 10''H when shipped. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these plants will fund ongoing conservation research. Click here.

National Geographic Magazine

National Geographic®

You are invited to roam the world in the pages of National Geographic magazine. Explore the diversity of our planet's lands and inhabitants in compelling stories covering topics such as animals, nature, science, technology, culture, history, travel, adventure, exploration, and geography. The monthly National Geographic magazine is your key benefit of membership.

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As many as five wall map supplements throughout the year in issues of the magazine
A personalized Membership Certificate
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The opportunity to examine special Society products free in your home before deciding to purchase
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Join the Society and bring the adventure of National Geographic into your home! Click here.