The Yule Log: Ritual, Fire, and the Meaning We Create- Bonus Episode

The Yule Log is one of the oldest winter rituals in Europe—a carved beam of wood burned slowly through the longest nights to protect the household and usher in the return of the sun. But beneath the folklore and tradition lies something deeply human: our need to create meaning, especially in seasons marked by scarcity, darkness, and uncertainty.

 

In this bonus episode, we explore the origins of the Yule Log, the runes and wishes carved into it, and why rituals like this have lasted for centuries. From symbolic renewal to communal bonding to the psychology of hope in winter, the Yule Log shows how people have always used story and ceremony to survive the dark.