what is the significance of the yule log in french tradition
Yule log
The custom of burning a Yule log for one or more nights starting on Christmas Eve was also formerly widespread in France , where the usual term is bûche de noël . This may derive from a custom requiring peasants to bring a log to their lord . In Burgundy , gifts would be hidden under the log . Prayers were offered as the log was lighted in Brittany and in Provence , where the custom is still widely observed and called cacho fio ( blessing of the log ) : the log , or branch from a fruit - bearing tree , is first paraded three times around the house by the grandfather of the family , then blessed with wine ; it is often lighted together with the saved ashes of the previous year 's log . Other regional names include cosse de Nau in Berry , mouchon de Nau in Angoumois , chuquet in Normandy , souche in the Île de France , and tréfouiau in the Vendée . The custom has now long been replaced by the eating of a log - shaped cake , also named Bûche de Noël . 
The custom of burning a Yule log for one or more nights starting on Christmas Eve was also formerly widespread in France , where the usual term is bûche de noël . This may derive from a custom requiring peasants to bring a log to their lord . In Burgundy , gifts would be hidden under the log . Prayers were offered as the log was lighted in Brittany and in Provence , where the custom is still widely observed and called cacho fio ( blessing of the log ) : the log , or branch from a fruit - bearing tree , is first paraded three times around the house by the grandfather of the family , then blessed with wine ; it is often lighted together with the saved ashes of the previous year 's log . Other regional names include cosse de Nau in Berry , mouchon de Nau in Angoumois , chuquet in Normandy , souche in the Île de France , and tréfouiau in the Vendée . The custom has now long been replaced by the eating of a log - shaped cake , also named Bûche de Noël .
The custom of burning a Yule log for one or more nights starting on Christmas Eve was formerly widespread in France, where the usual term is bûche de noël. In Burgundy, gifts would be hidden under the log. In Brittany and in Provence prayers were offered as the log was lighted. The custom has now long been replaced by the eating of a log  shaped cake, also named Bûche de Noël.
The custom of burning a Yule log for one or more nights starting on Christmas Eve was also formerly widespread in France , where the usual term is bûche de noël . In Burgundy , gifts would be hidden under the log . Prayers were offered as the log was lighted in Brittany and in Provence , where the custom is still widely observed and called cacho fio ( blessing of the log ) : the log , or branch from a fruit - bearing tree , is first paraded three times around the house by the grandfather of the family , then blessed with wine ; it is often lighted together with the saved ashes of the previous year 's log . The custom has now long been replaced by the eating of a log - shaped cake , also named Bûche de Noël .