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To the ashes of the yule log were ascribed certain ef ficacious properties and they were gathered from the fire place with care. For one thing, they were mixed with cattle feed to preserve the animals from disease. Scat tered on the land the ashes of the yule log protected crops against blight. There are “authorities” who say that the yule-log was the center of the bon fires which the pagan Scan dinavians lighted in honor of their god Thor, at about the time of the winter solstice, and that Christmas coming at about the time of the win ter solstice, the yule-log burning was continued by the Scandinavians after their conversion to Christian ity. Another story is that the Christian missionaries, after converting the north ern pagans, required them to cut down a large tree, hew from its trunk a heavy log and then burn that log as a symbol that they renounced their heathen gods. This for mal renunciation of pagan ism and induction into Chris tianity was often timed to take place during the Chris tian celebration of the birth of Christ, and it is said that in this way the yule-log came to be a part of the celebration of Christmas.
Newspaper Details
Decatur Wise County Messenger
Decatur, Texas, US
Fri, Dec 15, 1922
Page 21
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 17 Nov 2025
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