<Dl> <Dd> Our Fore - Fathers, when the common Devices of Eve were over, and Night was come on, were wont to light up Candles of an uncommon Size, which were called Christmas - Candles, and to lay a Log of Wood upon the Fire, which they termed a Yule - Clog, or Christmas - Block . These were to Illuminate the House, and turn the Night into Day; which custom, in some Measure, is still kept up in the Northern Parts . It hath, in all probability, been derived from the Saxons . For Bede tells us, That (sic) this very Night was observed in this Land before, by the Heathen Saxons . They began, says he, their Year on the Eight of the Calenders of January, which is now our Christmas Party: And the very Night before, which is now Holy to us, was by them called Mædrenack, or the Night of the Mothers...The Yule - Clog therefore hath probably been a Part of those Ceremonies which were perform'd that Night's Ceremonies . It seems to have been used, as an Emblem of the return of the Sun, and the lengthening of the Days . For as both December and January were called Guili or Yule, upon Account of the Sun's Returning, and the Increase of the Days; so, I am apt to believe, the Log has had the Name of the Yule - Log, from its being burnt as an Emblem of the returning Sun, and the Increase of its Light and Heat . This was probably the Reason of the custom among the Heathen Saxons; but I cannot think the Observation of it was continued for the same Reason, after Christianity was embraced. ..." </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> Our Fore - Fathers, when the common Devices of Eve were over, and Night was come on, were wont to light up Candles of an uncommon Size, which were called Christmas - Candles, and to lay a Log of Wood upon the Fire, which they termed a Yule - Clog, or Christmas - Block . These were to Illuminate the House, and turn the Night into Day; which custom, in some Measure, is still kept up in the Northern Parts . It hath, in all probability, been derived from the Saxons . For Bede tells us, That (sic) this very Night was observed in this Land before, by the Heathen Saxons . They began, says he, their Year on the Eight of the Calenders of January, which is now our Christmas Party: And the very Night before, which is now Holy to us, was by them called Mædrenack, or the Night of the Mothers...The Yule - Clog therefore hath probably been a Part of those Ceremonies which were perform'd that Night's Ceremonies . It seems to have been used, as an Emblem of the return of the Sun, and the lengthening of the Days . For as both December and January were called Guili or Yule, upon Account of the Sun's Returning, and the Increase of the Days; so, I am apt to believe, the Log has had the Name of the Yule - Log, from its being burnt as an Emblem of the returning Sun, and the Increase of its Light and Heat . This was probably the Reason of the custom among the Heathen Saxons; but I cannot think the Observation of it was continued for the same Reason, after Christianity was embraced. ..." </Dd> <P> More recently, G.R. Willey (1983) says: </P> <Dl> <Dd> Communal bon - bons with feasting and jollification have a pagan root--ritual bonfires at the beginning of November once signaled the start of another year and the onset of winter . Their subsequent incorporation into the Christian calendar, to become part and parcel of the festival of Christmas, and, later, their association with the New Year (January 1st) is an intriguing story . Many, if not all, of the various customs and traditions at one time extensively witnessed at Christmas and the' old' New Year stem from this common source, e.g. Twelfth Night bonfires, including' Old Meg' from Worcestershire and burning the bush from Herefordshire, first footing, etc....Any traces of primitive ritual such as scattering of burnt ashes or embers as an omen of fertilisation or purification have long since disappeared . </Dd> </Dl>

Where did the term yule log come from