The Yule Log: Once a Source of Scorn

A Christmas tradition today in England, the Yule Log was once a source of scorn.

In the early medieval era, many households across England still followed druid rituals. One of these traditions was the burning of a Yule Log, kept alight for twelve days during the feast of the winter solstice. The ashes of the log were kept in the household for luck during the coming year.

In the twilight period before Christianity became dominant in England, people practicing these rituals were shunned and at times persecuted. The conquering Normans in particular, disdained the Anglo-Saxon indigenous population for maintaining what the Normans saw as pagan practices. Eventually, the Yule Log along with many non-Christian traditions, were merged into the Christmas celebrations still observed today.

In my novel King Robin, the Yule Log tradition plays a pivotal role in the identity of Robert Webber, the man who would one day be known as Robin Hood.

You can read a free preview of KING ROBIN using the Look Inside feature here: tinyurl.com/KingRobinPreview

King Robin