The Yule Log Ceremony
It’s almost time again for a beloved Colonial Williamsburg holiday tradition: the Yule Log Ceremony. The first Yule Log Ceremony was held at Colonial Williamsburg in December 1940, although it had been preceded for some years by one at William & Mary. In 1940, Colonial Williamsburg was looking for ways to involve the larger community in celebrations and to use historical Christmas traditions in the restored area.
Although there is no record of a Yule Log in colonial Virginia, the tradition was one of long standing in English and Scottish Christmas celebrations. Each part of the ceremony has an allegorical meaning.
Every attendee holds a spring of green which symbolizes the woes of the past. When the Yule Log passes in procession, each person touches their sprig to ward off evil spirits.
Costumed employees and guests touching the Yule Log and making a wish during the annual Yule Log ceremony. Photo by Dave Brooks, 1955
During the blessing of the log, wine is poured on the fire to ward off spirits and to protect the house from “ghosties and ghaisties and things that go boomp in the night.” Then each guest throws their sprig into the fire to symbolize the banishing of last year’s woes.
A guest throwing a sprig of holly onto the Yule Log during a Yule Log Ceremony held at the Williamsburg Lodge. Photo by Stanton Becker, early 1970s
Each part of the ceremony includes carols and drinking from the Wassail Bowl. When the log processes into the ceremony location, it often has been accompanied by platters of fruit and turkeys and wassail bowls to symbolize the bounty and celebratory nature of the season.
Williamsburg Lodge employees holding the Yule Log and a tray with fruit during a Yule Log Ceremony procession held at the Lodge. Photo by Thomas Williams, 1946
Williamsburg Lodge employees enter the Lodge with a platter of roasted turkeys as part of the Yule Log Ceremony. Photo by Stanton Becker, early 1970s
The first Colonial Williamsburg Yule Log Ceremony was held at the Williamsburg Lodge as it was the only public space with a large enough fireplace to accommodate the log. In subsequent years, the ceremonies have taken place in different locations: sometimes at the Lodge, sometimes at the Inn back courtyard, and sometimes in other places in the Historic Area.
For several years, guests had the opportunity to go out into the woods at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Course and help to cut down and drag the log back to the Inn.
Guests pull the sled carrying the Yule Log towards to rear of the Williamsburg Inn for the Yule Log Ceremony. Photo by Jim Amos, December 1969
Follow the Yule log, make a wish, and toss a sprig of greenery into the bonfire.
Lena Richard was a woman who began as a domestic cook and ended up a nationally known chef with a frozen foods line, a cookbook, a television show, and diners willing to cross the segregation line to eat at her establishments. She was a pioneer who achieved an astonishing amount and though she brought her culinary magic to Colonial Williamsburg for but a brief time, all Travis House diners departed dreaming of her Creole cooking.
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