By Thomas Asklar
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-657338.mp3
Buffalo, NY – Christmas is sometimes referred to as the season of light. Penetrating the darkness, Jesus, the Light of the World, appeared in a manger under the light of the star of wonder. The Three Kings, or Magi, followed the guiding light of this star to encounter this king and present him with their gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Certainly lights have been, and continue to be a huge part of many Christmas traditions, but warmth and fire are yet another connection to this holiday. Who could deny the sublime beauty of a toasty fire in a fireplace or fire pit at this time of year, of "chestnuts roasting on an open fire?"
The term yule refers to the feast of the nativity of Jesus Christ. The word itself has roots in an Old Norse word jOl, a pagan midwinter festival. The Yule Log is an interesting entity that is connected to many worldwide celebrations that take place during the Christmas season.
The Christmas tradition of the Yule Log dates back to ancient Persia when the yole, an enormous circular slice of a log, was cut from an old tree trunk. The circle was like a calendar, representing the entire year. With each season, one quarter of it was burned... When winter arrived, the last section of the yole was burned... This Eastern tradition became the one of the inspirations behind our more recent yuletide traditions.
The Scandinavian Yuletide term jul, (from the older hjul or wheel) refers to the turn towards the new year and ultimately springtime following the Winter Solstice. In many homes throughout this region, the Yule Log was actually an entire tree, which was burned during the entire holiday season. Many believed that this custom protected the home from evil spirits.
In Medieval England, lords of the manor felled an enormous tree during Yuletide, cut a section of the trunk and hid it. Many times the tree would be an Ash Tree, as there was a legend that Mary saw the baby Jesus for the first time by the illumination of an ash wood fire. At the beginning of the Christmas season, people living on the manner would search for the massive log. When discovered, it would be dragged into the main hall of the manor, hauled onto the flames of the hearth, and when the log ignited, it signified the beginning of the entire community's Christmas festivities.
In other countries around the world such as Italy, France, and Canada, other customs include making libations using oil, salt, or wine while reciting prayers or offering toasts. In some families, young girls or mothers had the honor of igniting the log using splinters from the preceding year. The disappearance of this tradition paralleled the replacement of enormous hearths with cast iron stoves, and the size of the logs decreased.
The famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright believed that the hearth was the heart of a home, a place for warm family gatherings. He constructed mammoth fireplaces in many of his residential structures which became the center point of countless family holiday traditions.
The Yule Log tradition actually inspired a pastry, a delicious pastry known as the buche de Noel. At the end of my family's Christmas feasts of the past, my Aunt Rosie would present to our family this beautiful creation, complete with frosted bark and holly garnishes.
Old traditions evolve into new traditions. My current family tradition starts on the day after Thanksgiving. Our family's Yule Log, which is a log cut from the bottom of the previous year's Christmas Tree, is burned in our fire pit. This is a signal that the Christmas season has begun as the energy of past Christmas holidays is dispersed into the universe and ultimately absorbed into the Christmas of the present and future-the grand official kick off of the holiday season, the season of light. Of course we decorate our tree and it is a central part of our family's Christmas tradition
At the end of the Christmas holiday season, my friend Tom has established yet another tradition. On the third weekend of January he hosts The Annual Christmas Tree Burning Party, which is now in its 17th year, out on Lake Ontario's shoreline. Imagine an enormous bonfire lighting up the frigid night time sky. Perhaps Toronto's skyline is glowing majestically like Oz in the distance. Everyone brings their tree to place onto the blaze, which ignites like a tinder box, throwing intense heat, light, and airborne cinders into the night. Tom even collects trees throughout his neighborhood to add to the fun. It is a wonderful event that features fellowship, and is a wonderful end to the Christmas holiday season. But every ending is a new beginning. Before placing my tree onto the pyre, I cut a nice sized log off of the bottom for next year's yule log, and the circle, the season, the cycle continues May your holiday season be filled with warmth and illumination.
Listener-Commentator Thomas Asklar is an artist who lives in Lewiston.
Click the "listen" icon above to hear the commentary now or use your podcasting software to download it to your computer or iPod.