The Yule log of olden times was a big one, its bright flames banishing the darkest days of the year. Often decorated with holly and other greenery, its lighting was accompanied by feasting and drinking. Many people still burn a Yule log, air quality restrictions permitting.
If you'd like to make it part of your family holiday customs, consider making its burning a symbolic gesture. Tie strings around the log at intervals to slip in holly and juniper. Also, tuck in notes from family and friends with their hopes and wishes for the coming year.
The evergreen also served as a symbol in pre-Christian days. Bringing a freshly-cut tree into the house during the solstice symbolized the hope for the return of spring and the everlasting resilience of the earth. My personal belief is that it was more than just a symbol. In the days before plumbing and regular bathing, it must have been a welcome scent in a stuffy dwelling, especially if your husband Thor had not been down to the river to bathe for a few months. A fresh tree was the Pine-Sol of its day.
Christmas trees, illuminated with candles, became popular in England in America during the reign of Queen Victoria. Her husband, Prince Albert, brought the custom from his native Germany. Engravings of the royal couple decorating their tree were displayed in magazines and the Christmas tree became an enduring holiday decoration.
Oddly enough, engravings of the couple shown in America removed Victoria's crown and Albert's moustache, perhaps to make them seem more like "just folks." It worked; Christmas trees became firmly entrenched by the middle of the nineteenth century.
One problem with Christmas trees is their disposal after the holidays. It is truly sad to send a tree that sprang from the earth to a landfill in a plastic bag. Most municipalities offer tree recycling and that's good. You can also put the tree to good purpose in your garden.
Lop off the individual limbs and spread them to protect plants that are vulnerable to wind and cold such as pansies or borderline-hardy perennials. The boughs act as miniature wind breaks and help to trap snow to insulate the plants. The needles will also drop and enrich the soil. Don't worry about getting your soil too acidic, that's not a problem in alkaline Colorado. Remove the branches in late winter or early spring to expose the plants to more sun.
Perhaps you'll want to make the lighting of a Yule log part of your family traditions, and your garden will benefit from your Christmas tree contributing to its good health.
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