hristmas log appear frequently in folk-lore, and may be explained
either by the connection of fire with human generation already noted, or,
on the other theory, by the burning log being a sort of sacrament of
sunshine. It is not perhaps necessary to exclude the idea of the log's
connection with the vegetation-spirit even on the ancestral cult
hypothesis, for the tree which furnished the fuel may have been regarded
as the source of the life of the race.{9} The Serbian rites certainly
suggest very strongly some sort of veneration for the log itself as well
as for the fire that it feeds.

* * * * *

We may now return to western Europe. In France the Christmas log or
_souche de Noel_ is common in the less modernized places, particularly in
the south. In Dauphine it is called _chalendal_, |255| in Provence
_calignaou_ (from _Kalendae_, of course) or _trefoir_, in Orne
_trefouet_. On Christmas Eve in Provence the whole family goes solemnly
out to bring in the log. A carol meanwhile is sung praying for blessings
on the house, that the women may bear children, the nanny-goats kids, and
the ewes lambs, that corn and flour may abound, and the cask be full of
wine. Then the youngest child in the family pours wine on the log in the
name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The log is then thrown upon the
fire, and the charcoal is kept all the year and used as a remedy for
various ills.{11}

Another account is given in his Memoirs by Frederic Mistral, the
Provencal poet. On Christmas Eve everyone, he says, speaking of his
boyhood, sallied forth to fetch the Yule log, which had to be cut from a
fruit-tree:--

"Walking in line we bore it home, headed by the oldest at one end,
and I, the last born, bringing up the rear. Three times we made the
tour of the kitchen, then, arrived at the flagstones of the hearth,
my father solemnly poured over the log a glass of wine, with the
dedicatory words:

'Joy, joy. May God shower joy upon us, my dear children. Christmas
brings us all good things. God give us grace to see the New Year, and
if we do not increase in numbers may we at all events not decrease.'

In chorus we responded:

'Joy, joy, joy!' and lifted the log on the fire dogs. Then as the
first flame leapt up my father would cross himself, saying, 'Burn the
log, O fire,' and with that we all sat down to the table."{12}

In some places the _trefoir_ or _t