The roots of the Yule log can be found in ancient pagan traditions, especially in winter solstice celebrations. In many cultures, the winter solstice marked the rebirth of the sun and the ...

When you think of a yule log, you probably picture a roaring, wood-burning fire casting a warm light on an ornament-adorned Christmas tree. Or perhaps you have a sweet tooth and the first thing ...

In fact, the Old English word “geōl” goes way, way back and was used for something decidedly un-Christmas: an annual pagan festival that ... burning a specific log became part of the festivities. Like ...

Credit: Anna Efetova via Getty Images It's often claimed that many of today's Christmas traditions derive from the pre-Christian observances of pagan cults suppressed by Roman authorities.

Like many European Christmas traditions, the burning of the Yule Log is based on ancient pagan rituals – in this case, the celebration of the Winter Solstice just a few days before Christmas.

It's a time-honored William & Mary tradition to cast aside the year's woes by tossing a sprig of holly into the flames of the Yule log. In recent years, students have created a new tradition of ...

The Yule log sounds like something from dystopian fiction: In a world where trees are under attack from corporate interests, our most heartwarming tradition is watching a fake fireplace through a ...

The yule log tradition can be traced back to Scandinavia, where Yule, a festival dedicated to the winter solstice, started. To ring in the shortest day of the year, people feasted and celebrated ...