Posts Tagged ‘pagan’

Yule Log

This ancient anecdote is about how a pagan tradition has been borrowed from the Norse Mythos by some Christians. In ancient times people burned logs to appease the gods and to celebrate their conviction to the powers of the gods. During festivals, Norsemen honored the father of the Gods Odin and the god Jólnir. Jólnir was commonly known as the Yule Father.

The original Yule Log burning ceremony started on the winter solstice. At 5:47 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time Monday December 21, in the Northern Hemisphere marked the mid-point of the year. The winter solstice marks the day with the fewest hours of daylight and a Yule Log was ceremonially burned.

Because the burning of the Yule Log took place near Christmas people still practice the tradition today. This practice is one of the many pagan rituals absconded by Christianity as part of the Christmas celebration. Thank god for pagans!