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The burning of the Yule log dates back thousands of years and was part of the winter Solstice celebrations before Christianity came to Briton in the year 36AD. The bards gathered people together on Solstice eve to tell stories of battles waged in the past and other events with even a Ghost story thrown in. History was recorded verbally and these events were important in order that children would be able to pass it on to future generations. Between 36AD and the fourth century AD When Pope Julius l decided to celebrate Christmas around the Winter Solstice, the Yule log tradition continued, but with his decision for some the fire came to represent the light of the Saviour instead of the light of the Sun. For others it still represented the battle of spring over winter.
"When open chimneys were universal in farmhouses the Christmas stock, mock, or block (the log), on which a rude figure of a man had been chalked, was kindled with great ceremony; in some parts with a piece of charred wood that had been saved from the last year's "block". A log in Cornwall is almost always called a "block". "Throw a block on the fire." Candles painted by some member of the family were often lighted at the same time."2
"The
following is reported in an early number of the West Briton
newspaper. "One evening during the Christmas of 1837 a certain Mr
Lukey, of Carminow, near Helston, was sitting by the fire when his
ears were suddenly assailed by cries resembling those of a child
which apparently proceeded from the chimney wherein the stock lay
burning, as it had been for three successive days, according to the
universal custom of the country folk at this season’. On examining
the log he
1. Sabellius, (the Roman Catholic prelate and theologian who was excommunicated by Pope Calixtus in 220 AD) writing in 250 AD he said - ".....Christianity was privately confessed elsewhere, but the first nation that produced it as their religion and called it Christian, after the name of Christ, was Britain." Catholic Archbishop Ussher, (1550 - 1613) writing in his Brittannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates said -"The British National Church was founded AD 36, 160 years before heathen Rome confessed Christianity." 2. Miss M. A. Courtney
3.
West Briton
Newspaper 2nd February 1838 4. Music: "Dons Cantol" (Traditional Corish) This is a Christmas dance performed around a basket of sand in which lighted candles were stood. Arranged by Merv Davey Bard of the Gorsedd and recorder of Music for the Federation. It is taken from "Nadelik - a Cornish Christmas" recorded by Kescana and Pyba in 2002.
Cornish Carols - A Tradition For The World. |
