Yule logs can mean various things to different people. For some, Yule logs mean warm, crackling fireplaces. Others are reminded of sweet chocolate cakes.
Either way, a contemporary Christmas icon may echo a tradition dating back to ancient times antiquityespecially in the changing medieval Scandinavia.
This region in northern Europe, commonly generally known as the home of the Vikings, experienced a major change in its culture starting in the eleventh century – a change involving a combination of faith and long winter nights, all interestingly depicted in an unsuspecting Christmas diary.
An extended winter night
“The word ‘yuletide’ is definitely our understanding of ‘winter’ in Old Norse,” said Heidi Sherman, an associate professor of medieval history at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and curator of UWGB’s Viking House.
In line with Sherman, Old Norse was the ancient language spoken by the Vikings and their companions in Iceland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
They celebrated a vacation called Yule, or the Winter Festival.
“It’s really centered around Winter Solsticewhich is clearly the longest night of the yr,” Sherman said. “It also celebrates the coming of the light as the days get longer after the winter solstice.”
“The winter solstice is actually sacred since it celebrates the tranquility of winter, but in addition the excitement of celebrating the sun,” added Sherman.
This breakthrough between darkness and light-weight had a special meaning for the inhabitants of Scandinavia. On account of their northern location, they might have experienced only 4 or five hours of daylight leading as much as the winter solstice.
As a part of the winter Christmas, the first Scandinavians gathered around the fire.
“They might light this giant log and everybody would sit around telling stories, feasting and sharing,” Sherman said. “After which every morning they might relight it if it went out, after which for 12 days until the latest yr they might proceed burning, celebrating and feasting.”
In line with Sherman, the burning wood was often manufactured from oak and would have been fastidiously chosen. It could even have carved images, for instance of Norse gods.
This fiery point of interest was named the Yule Journal.
![Yule diaries come in several forms these days - some sweeter than others.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/Yule-embed-1.jpg?w=1024)
Christmas holidays
The long night of Christmas heralded the starting of longer days, however it also meant family time spent on Viking farms.
“The core of this farm could be your immediate family,” Sherman said. “They’re probably very busy with work most of the time, and Christmas could be a day off – and I feel that is how we sit up for Christmas.”
In line with Sherman, one other aspect of Christmas was storytelling.
Most individuals in Scandinavia were illiterate at the time, so storytelling was a key way of passing on family traditions and stories.
During Christmas, the best storyteller in the family or in the village, he would tell stories of family adventures or gods, and help others tell their stories as well.
“And suddenly you could have people around you from throughout the world, young and old, telling stories and sharing their lives,” Sherman said. “I feel we do it during our family Christmas celebrations too, since it’s a time once we meet up with one another, and it’s just form of a universal, collective behavior.”
“It’s something you are really looking forward to and relaxing and having fun with the depths of winter with the people you’re keen on,” added Sherman.
![Old Norse was the ancient language spoken by the Vikings and their companions in Iceland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/Viking-embed.jpg?w=1024)
Hybrid vacation
It is simple to see the appeal of spending time with family members by the warm, shimmering Christmas log. But how exactly to do it pagan tradition specifically develop into a part of the Christian Christmas celebration?
The reply is a bit complicated.
In line with Sherman, the Vikings began converting from their traditional pagan belief system of Norse gods to Christianity after arriving in Scandinavia in the eleventh century.
On account of the illiteracy of most Vikings and virtually all medieval Scandinavians, their traditions weren’t written down until the thirteenth century. During this time, Christianity became far more a part of the Scandinavian culture.
“I feel what happened was that the pagan tradition of the Vikings mixed with the Christian traditions,” Sherman said.
For instance, the belief that the Christmas log burned for 12 days can have been influenced by the biblical story of the three sensible men who visited the newborn Jesus Christ in Bethlehem 12 days after his birth.
Comfort and joy
It has been over a thousand years since the Vikings’ pagan belief system met the Christian faith – and their tradition of Christmas diaries remains to be a part of Christmas.
“They really speak to this season,” Sherman said.
“It really evokes that feeling of coziness, togetherness with family,” she added. “And I feel these traditions are only beautiful.”