Interesting Origins of Our Favorite Christmas Traditions

Yule Logs

Them: Why do you eat cakes decorated as timber?

You: Throwing a yule log on the fire is another tradition that is even said to predate Christianity- Gaels and Celts had cleansed themselves of the past year and welcomed the near year by throwing logs decorated with holly, ivy, and pinecones as part of winter solstice celebrations.

Yule Logs

They also believed that the ashes would protect them against evil spirits and lightning strikes. Overtime this practice died down and miraculously turned into cake! In the 19th century, Parisian bakers started making yule log-shaped desserts and they even started competing against each other to see who could create the most elaborate yule log cake.