yule-log
Definition
Noun: - A large log traditionally burned in the hearth during the Christmas season, especially on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, as part of Yule celebrations.
Usage Examples
- (A large log burned for the holiday.)
- (A log used in Yule customs.)
Advanced Usage
"to bring in the yule-log": to ceremonially carry and burn the log at the start of Christmas festivities.
- The family gathered to bring in the yule-log and sing carols. (They performed the ritual of bringing the log inside.)
"yule-log cake": a modern dessert shaped like a log, often made of sponge cake and chocolate cream, served at Christmas.
- For dessert, we had a delicious yule-log cake with chocolate icing. (A cake resembling the traditional log.)
Variants and Related Words
- Yule (noun): the pagan winter festival or the Christmas season itself.
- They celebrated Yule with feasting and gift-giving. (The ancient festival.)
- Log (noun): a piece of wood cut from a tree trunk.
- He chopped a log for the fireplace. (A section of a tree trunk.)
Synonyms
- Christmas log: a log burned at Christmas; less common but synonymous.
- Yule clog: an older term for the same tradition.
Related Idioms
- "yule-tide": the Christmas season.
- Yule-tide greetings were sent to all friends and family. (Christmas-time greetings.)
Phrasal Verbs
- Burn the yule-log: to light and consume the log during the holiday.
- They burned the yule-log until it turned to ash. (They kept the fire going with the log.)