It’s that time of the year! Christmas is around the corner bringing us so much joy, and a common holiday tradition with it: the Yule Log.
For many of us, the Yule Log is the symbol of our holiday celebrations, the thing that means the most when it comes to Christmas.
Sadly, this year, the Yule Log feels a bit different. It’s not a symbol of joy–it’s a symbol of fear.
The reason people are afraid of the Yule Log this year is because the tradition involves gathering around a fireplace, a practice that has become increasingly dangerous due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With so many people staying at home and trying to avoid being exposed to the virus, large indoor gatherings seem out of the question.
Moreover, even if we do gather, it’s difficult to follow all the precautionary measures that have been put in place to minimize our risk of getting infected. For example, we can’t always keep our distance, control the movement of people, or ensure that surfaces are disinfected frequently.
The Yule Log is more than just a celebratory tradition. For many of us, there is a real spiritual and emotional attachment to it. We burn the log to symbolize the rebirth of the sun and to honor our ancestors and gods.
However, due to the pandemic, we all are thrown into a state of fear that makes it hard to enjoy and embrace traditional Yule Log practices.
To make the situation even more frightening, reports of potential mutated strains of the virus have started emerging, prompting many to take extra precautionary steps like wearing face masks even indoors.
It’s hard to imagine that this could be the case for a tradition that has been so comforting for so many for so long. But, make no mistake about it, Yule Logs are scary this year. We can still enjoy the beauty of the flames without compromising our safety and that’s what we have to do if we want to celebrate Christmas the right way.