OCR Text |
Show Origin of Yuletide Yule was the name of the ancient Scandinavian festival held at the time of the winter solstice. The word Is of uncertain origin, says Tho Housekeeper, Housekeep-er, but It probably Is taken directly from tho Icelandic word "Jol," meaning mean-ing a feast. It Is curious to note how many nations of old marked the "turn of the year" that Is, tho December solstice by festivals. Tho Egyptians, the Hindus, the Persians, tho Greeks and tho RoinanR all had feasts at this season, but especially the Northern nations the Teutons, tho Scandinavians, Scandinav-ians, tho early natives of Britain rejoiced re-joiced nt tliu event of tho sun's turn' on Its coni'-'P. The festival was kept with much eating and drinking and noisy Jollity. One of the ceremonies was the placing of an enormous log of wood-often wood-often so largo that it required the si length of several men to bring It In upon the hearth lire In tho huge lire place. The binning of tho Yule log was thought to Insure good fortune to the fuiiill., especially when charred p'eces of the log tuirnod the year be fore and kept ner for that purpo.su were used to light It. |