Feast of Juul

Juul, Feast of

December 21 or 22

The Feast of Juul was a pre-Christian festival observed in Scandinavia at the time of the Winter Solstice. Fires were lit to symbolize the heat, light, and life-giving properties of the returning sun. A Yule (or Juul) log was brought in with great ceremony and burned on the hearth in honor of the Scandinavian god, Thor. A piece of the log was kept as both a token of good luck and as kindling for the following year's log.
In England and in many parts of Germany, France, and other European countries, the Yule log was burned until nothing but ash remained; then the ashes were collected and either strewn on the fields as fertilizer every night until Twelfth Night or kept as a charm and useful medicine. French peasants believed that if the ashes were kept under the bed, they would protect the house against thunder and lightning, as well as prevent chilblains on the heels during the winter.
The present-day custom of lighting a Yule log at Christmas is believed to have originated in the bonfires associated with the Feast of Juul.

SOURCES:
DaysCustFaith-1957, p. 352
EncyChristmas-2003, p. 843
RoundYr-1950, p. 196
StoryWrldHol-1924, p. 312

Celebration days: Dec 22, 2011; Dec 21, 2012; Dec 21, 2013; Dec 21, 2014; Dec 22, 2015