Editing Yule log (section)

==Regional variations and analogues==
===Albania===
[[Albanian paganism#Winter solstice|Nata e Buzmit]], "Yule log's night", is traditionally celebrated by [[Albanians]] between December 22 and January 6.{{sfn|Tirta|2004|pp=249–251}} Buzmi is a ritualistic piece of wood (or several pieces of wood) that is put to burn in the fire ([[Zjarri (Albanian paganism)|zjarri]]) of the hearth ([[vatër]]) on the night of a winter celebration that falls after the return of the Sun ([[Dielli (Albanian paganism)|Dielli]]) for summer (after the winter solstice), sometimes on the night of ''Kërshëndella'' on December 24 ([[Christmas Eve]]), sometimes on the night of ''kolendra'', or sometimes on [[New Year's Day]] or on any other occasion around the same period, a tradition that is originally related to the cult of the Sun.{{sfn|Tirta|2004|p=282}}{{sfn|Qafleshi|2011|pp=43–71}}

A series of rituals of a magical character are performed with the buzmi, which, based on old beliefs, aims at agricultural plant growth and for the prosperity of production in the living thing (production of vegetables, trees, vineyards, etc.). This practice has been traditionally found among all Albanians, also documented among the [[Arbëreshë people|Arbëreshë]] in Italy and the [[Arvanites]] in Greece until the first half of the 20th century,{{sfn|Tirta|2004|p=282}} and it is still preserved in remote Albanian ethnographic regions today.{{sfn|Qafleshi|2011|pp=43–71}}

The richest set of rites related to buzmi are found in northern Albania ([[Mirdita]], [[Pukë]], [[Dukagjini Highlands|Dukagjin]], [[Malësia e Madhe]], [[Shkodër]] and [[Lezhë]], as well as in [[Kosovo]], [[Dibër Valley|Dibër]] and so on.{{sfn|Tirta|2004|p=282}}{{sfn|Qafleshi|2011|pp=43–71}}

===United Kingdom===
Scholars have observed similarities between the Yule log and the folk custom of the [[ashen faggot]], recorded solely in the [[West Country]] of [[England]]. First recorded at the beginning of the 19th century, the ashen faggot is burnt on Christmas Eve, is associated with a variety of folk beliefs, and is "made of smaller ash sticks bound into a faggot with strips of hazel, [[withy]], or bramble".<ref name="SIMPSON-ROUD-11">Simpson and Roud (2003:11).</ref> G. R. Wiley observes that the ashen faggot may have developed out of the Yule log.<ref name="WILEY-42">Wiley (1983:42).</ref>

The term "Yule log" is not the only term used to refer to the custom. It was commonly called a "Yule Clog" in north-east England, and it was also called the "Yule Block" in the Midlands and [[West Country]] and  "Gule Block" in Lincolnshire. In Cornwall, the term "Stock of the Mock" was found.<ref name="HUTTON-3839">Hutton (1996:38&ndash;39).</ref>  In [[Wales]] it's called ''Boncyff Nadolig'' or ''Blocyn y Gwyliau'' (the Christmas Log or the Festival Block).<ref name="HUTTON-39" />  In [[Scotland]] it's called ''Yeel Carline'' (the Christmas Old Wife).<ref name="HUTTON-39" />

=== Ireland ===
In [[Ireland]], the yule log is called ''Bloc na Nollag'' (the Christmas Block).<ref name="HUTTON-39">Hutton (1996:39).</ref>
[[File:Embrasement de la bûche du cacho fio.jpg|thumb|right|Cacho fio Noël celebrations in [[Beaumes-de-Venise]].]]

=== Germany ===
In [[Germany]], where it’s called ''Christklotz, Christbrand, Christblock, Julklotz'' or ''Julblock'' it was customary, especially in Hesse and Westphalia, to burn the log slowly and then remove it and throw it back on the fire as protection from lightning. {{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

=== France ===
The custom of burning a Yule log for one or more nights starting on Christmas Eve was also formerly widespread in France, where the usual term is ''bûche de noël''. This may derive from a custom requiring peasants to bring a log to their lord. In [[Burgundy]], gifts would be hidden under the log. Prayers were offered as the log was lighted in [[Brittany]] and in [[Provence]], where the custom is still widely observed and called ''cacho fio'' (blessing of the log): the log, or branch from a fruit-bearing tree, is first paraded three times around the house by the grandfather of the family, then blessed with wine; it is often lighted together with the saved ashes of the previous year's log.<ref>''Christmas in France'', Chicago: World Book, 1996, {{ISBN|9780716608769}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=dOtMnH-xZVwC&dq=Cacho+fio+Yule+log&pg=PA55 p.&nbsp;55].</ref><ref>[[Arnold van Gennep]], ''Manuel de folklore français contemporain'' Part 1: ''Les cérémonies familiales à la tombe'' Volume 7 Part 1: ''Cycle des douze jours: tournées et chansons de quète – personnification du cycle, feux, bûchers et brandons mobiles, la bûche et le tison de Noël'', Paris: Picard, (1958) 1987, {{ISBN|9782708400740}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=CGTsAAAAMAAJ&q=Cacho+fio+buche+de+noel pp.&nbsp;2118&ndash;60] {{in lang|fr}}</ref> Other regional names include ''cosse de Nau'' in [[Berry (province)|Berry]], ''mouchon de Nau'' in [[Angoumois]], ''chuquet'' in [[Normandy]], ''souche'' in the [[Île de France]], and ''tréfouiau'' in the [[Vendée]].<ref>Roger Dévigne, ''Le légendaire des provinces françaises à travers notre folklore'', Paris: Horizons de France, 1950, {{OCLC|4351361}}, repr. Pygmalion, 1978, [https://books.google.com/books?id=GyYKAQAAIAAJ&q=La+f%C3%AAte+familiale+de+la+b%C3%BBche+de+No%C3%ABl+a+%C3%A9t%C3%A9+de+toutes+nos+provinces%3B+la+%E2%82%AC+cosse+de+Nau+%C2%BB+du+Berry%2C+le+%C2%AB+chuquet+%C2%BB+de+Normandie%2C+...+de+Vend%C3%A9e%2C+le+%C2%AB+muurhon+de+Nau+%C2%BB+de+FAngoumois%2C+le+%C2%AB+cacho+fio+%C2%BB+de+Provence%2C+ou+b%C3%A9n%C3%A9diction+de+la+b%C3%BBche p.&nbsp;204], {{in lang|fr}}.</ref> The custom has now long been replaced by the eating of a log-shaped cake, also named ''[[Bûche de Noël]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://uk.france.fr/en/information/yule-log-history-and-traditions|title=Yule Log - History and Traditions|work=Official website for tourism in France|access-date=2017-12-08|language=en}}</ref>

=== Portugal ===
In [[Portugal]], the ''Madeiros de Natal'' are big bonfires that are lit in the center of the village, in the main square or in the churchyard on Christmas Eve. {{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

The remains of the log were preserved as they were believed to prevent damage usually caused by storms.

===Spain===
In [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]], the [[Galicians]]  also have their local variant of this tradition known as ''{{interlanguage link|tizón de Nadal|gl}}'' or ''cepo de Nadal''. {{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

In [[Asturias]] the ''Nataliegu'' burns from December 24 until the new year in the fireplace of many houses and leaves sweet buns for the children. Then his ashes, which were attributed healing and protective powers for the home, were scattered around the house, the stables and other rooms. {{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

In [[High Aragon]] it is called ''tizón de Nadal.'' The children of the house are in charge of saying beautiful phrases, blessings and rituals (although in some places the blessing is done by the oldest or owner of the house). Sometimes the blessing is done after filling the log with a little wine while the blessing is said. {{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

[[Catalan Countries|Catalan People]] have a similar tradition, where ''[[Tió de Nadal]]'' is a magic log "fed" before Christmas. Singing children cover the ''tió'' with a blanket and beat him with sticks to make the ''tió'' defecate nougat candy and small gifts.  In the eastern areas in contact with Catalonia, the ritual has a more playful part, when the children of the house hit the log so it "shits" the presents, which are usually jellies, candies, nuts and other things to eat or play. {{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

=== Pyrenean Europe ===
In [[Basque Country (greater region)|Basque Country]], ''Subilaro-egur also'' burns until the end of the year. The log gives life to good wishes, burns curses, prevents diseases and ensures good harvests.  Alternate names include ''eguberri, gabon, gabonzuzi, gabon-subil, gabon-mukur, olentzero-enbor, onontzoro-mokor, suklaro-egur, sukubela'' or ''porrondoko''.  [[Olentzero]] is a modern personification of the old log. {{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

In [[Occitania]] the “cachafuòc” or “soc de Nadal” it's also one of the traditional elements that accompany and cheer up Christmas. {{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

===Italy===
{{main|Christmas in Italy}}
[[File:Vasari tempio santo stefano alla vittoria pozzo della chiana.jpg|thumb|[[Val di Chiana]], [[Tuscany]], [[Italy]], where it was customary to sing a prayer during the "cerimonia del ceppo" (log ceremony). Later, blindfolded children (later rewarded with sweets and other gifts), had to hit the log, while the rest of the family sang a particular song, called "Ave Maria del Ceppo".<ref name="BC" />]]

[[Christmas in Italy]] begins on 8 December with the [[Feast of the Immaculate Conception]], the day on which traditionally Christmas trees are erected, and ends on 6 January of the following year with [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]].<ref name="BC">{{Cite web|date=November 25, 2013|title=The Best Christmas Traditions in Italy|url=https://www.walksofitaly.com/blog/things-to-do/christmas-traditions-in-italy|access-date=January 26, 2021|website=Walks of Italy|language=en-GB}}</ref>

The tradition of the Yule log, once widespread, has been attested in Italy since the 15th century.<ref name="RC" /> The Yule log appears with different names depending on the region: in [[Tuscany]] it is known as ''ciocco'',<ref name="LT">{{Cite web|title=La tradizione del ceppo in Toscana – Consulenza Linguistica – Accademia della Crusca|url=https://accademiadellacrusca.it/it/consulenza/la-tradizione-del-ceppo-in-toscana/1030|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225212600/https://accademiadellacrusca.it/it/consulenza/la-tradizione-del-ceppo-in-toscana/1030 |archive-date=December 25, 2019 |access-date=January 26, 2021|website=[[Accademia della Crusca]]|language=it}}</ref> while in [[Lombardy]] it is known as ''zocco''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Natale 2020, la tradizione del ceppo in Lombardia|url=https://www.ilgiorno.it/cronaca/tradizioni-natale-1.5818416|access-date=January 26, 2021|website=[[Il Giorno (newspaper)|Il Giorno]]|date=15 December 2020 |language=it}}</ref> In Lombardy, the head of the family used to sprinkle juniper on the stump and place coins on it while reciting a prayer in the name of the Trinity.  Afterwards, people drank as much as they liked and the remaining wine was thrown by the head of the family on the log. It was also customary, during the log ceremony, to cut three [[panettone]] and keep a piece for thaumaturgical purposes for the whole of the following year

In Tuscany, in particular in Val di Chiana (province of Arezzo), it was customary to chant the following prayer during the Christmas log ceremony. Later, blindfolded children (rewarded with sweets and other gifts), had to hit the log with pincers, while the rest of the family sang a particular song, called "Ave Maria del Ceppo". 

In eastern Sicily, especially in the Etna areas, the Christmas log (Zuccu in dialect) is customary to stack wood in a pyramidal way in the squares of the villages, tradition has it that it is lit on the evening of the 24th before the midnight mass after the blessing of the priest. In addition to recalling the Christian symbolism of the "light source of life", it becomes a pleasant opportunity, after the celebration of the midnight vigil, to stop around the log and exchange Christmas greetings wrapped in the heat of the flames.In [[Valdichiana|Val di Chiana]], in Tuscany, it was customary for children, blindfolded, to hit the block with pincers, while the rest of the family sang the ''Ave Maria del Ceppo''. That tradition was once deeply rooted in Italy is demonstrated by the fact that Christmas in Tuscany was called the "feast of the log".<ref name="LT" />

=== Montenegro ===
In [[Montenegro]], it was customary to put a piece of bread on the log and (similar to the Lombard custom) sprinkle it with wine. {{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

=== Baltics ===
[[Baltic people]] also have a similar [[ritual]] called "log pulling" ({{langx|lv|bluķa vilkšana}}; {{langx|lt|blukio vilkimas}}) where people in a village would drag a log ({{langx|lv|bluķis}}; {{langx|lt|blukis}}) or a tree stump through the village at the [[winter solstice]] and then at the end burn it.<ref>A History of Pagan Europe, Prudence Jones p. 174 Psychology Press, 1995</ref>

=== Balkans ===
{{Main|Badnjak (disambiguation)}}

Serbian people have a [[Badnjak (Serbian)|similar tradition]] in which oak is burned.
[[File:Badnjak - Trogir, Croatia.jpg|thumb|right|Badnjak logs burning in the hearth, Christmas Eve in [[Dalmatia]].]]
As early as [[Jacob Grimm]] in the early 19th century, scholars have observed parallels between the [[South Slavic languages|South Slavic]] custom of the [[Badnjak (disambiguation)|Badnjak]] and the Yule log tradition.<ref name="GRIMM-52">Grimm (1882:52).</ref> As observed by M. E. Durham (1940), the Badnjak is a sapling that is placed on the hearth on Christmas Eve. Varying customs involving the Badnjak may be performed, such as smearing it with fowl blood or goat blood and the ashes may be "strewn on the fields or garden to promote fertility on New Year's Eve".<ref name="DURHAM-1940">Durham (1940:83–89).</ref>

=== Greece ===
In [[Greece]], the yule log was believed to drive away the [[Kallikantzaros|kallikantzaroi]], the evil monsters of local folklore, from one's home. {{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

=== United States ===
In the [[United States]], a local New York television station first broadcast a six-minute loop of a yule log burning in a fireplace over the course of several hours. The broadcast, called simply ''Yule Log'', premiered in full color on Dec. 24, 1966, at 9:30&nbsp;p.m. on [[WPIX]] (Channel 11 in [[New York City]]) and became a yearly tradition. The original ''Yule Log'' footage was filmed on 16 millimeter film at Gracie Mansion, New York City's mayoral residence. New footage of a flaming yule log was shot in 1970, in a different location, producing a seven-minute loop on 35 millimeter film. The station still broadcasts the ''Yule Log'' for four to five hours every Christmas morning and, through the years, has had many imitators at television stations across the country.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[PIX11]]|title=LOCAL NEWS: Celebrate Christmas with the iconic WPIX Yule Log|first=Lauren|last=Cook|date=December 23, 2021|url=https://pix11.com/news/local-news/celebrate-christmas-with-the-iconic-wpix-yule-log-2021|access-date=December 2, 2022}}</ref> In 2024, [[Roku, Inc.]] launched a 24-hour Yule log [[FAST channel]] on their [[Roku|streaming players]] through [[The Roku Channel]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.roku.com/whats-on/movies/roku-yule-log-channel?id=80bf5fba08f6f9b64390032175c12ff2&srsltid=AfmBOoqriI63OzhopEPEZ-Tjf_s3R_uYrXdPLKXZb3KYNO10P0L9m_hC | title=Roku }}</ref>