Very many thanks to Helen for writing about this really lovely Christmas craft here on the blog. Perfect for adults or children alike. I love it.
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If you’re looking for a winter activity which is simple, unique and gives you a beautiful rustic centrepiece for your table or above the fireplace, then may I suggest a traditional-style Yule Log? I first made one last year, and was so pleased with it that this year I held a craft event with a few friends where everyone got to make their own. It was an evening of full of laughter, chat and creativity; the fire was crackling in the grate, the wine was flowing and there was even a bit of carolling (mainly thanks to the aforementioned flowing wine); it’s the perfect way to kick off the Christmas season.
The Yule Log has a long tradition in Europe, having always been a part of winter festivities in some form or another. The name Yule comes from the old Nordic word for the Winter Solstice, and back in mediaeval times it was a whole tree which would be cut up and fed into the fire piece by piece over the Twelve Days of Christmas. Nowadays it’s become somewhat more manageable, and we tend to decorate just the one log, adorn it with candles and display our workmanship, rather than chucking it in the fire.
To make your own Yule Log, you’ll need to gather together a variety of natural materials. This is the ideal excuse to get out into the woods and fields with your kids, and have them collect pine cones, fir brushwood, holly branches, sprigs of ivy, and interesting-looking twigs and sticks.
Bring it all home, and lay it out on newspaper to dry and to give any harbouring insects a chance to crawl out before they become a permanent feature in your masterpiece.
Other decorative items which look good: slices of dried oranges (you can make your own by slicing thinly and baking in a low oven for 2-3 hours) and apples (same method but dipped in lemon first to stop them turning brown), cinnamon sticks, star anise, walnuts, small wooden shapes like stars or hearts, and jute ribbon; basically anything natural or natural-looking. It’s a good time to raid both the spice cabinet and craft cupboard!
Of course, you’re going to need a log too. The size is up to you, think about where you’re going to display it and what size would look good there. You can use an actual cut branch, or a large firewood log, which has the advantage of having flat sides, making it a bit more stable.
You will also need: brown string, twine, secateurs and scissors, candles (your choice if you want tall and thin, short and stubby, or tee lights), and a hot glue gun.
To make the Yule Log, commandeer the dining room table, lay out all the materials you’ve gathered, put your favourite Christmas CD on the player and pour yourself a large glass of wine.
Place your log down so that you have some nice bark showing on the top. Start playing around with everything, placing bits on the log to get an idea of what might look good. Lay a few twigs of greenery along the top, add candles (you’ll need four if you’re going to be using this to mark the Advent Sundays), a pine cone or two. Once you’ve got a vague idea of what might go where, wrap some string around the log and tie the larger items on to it. Make sure the log looks good from both sides, especially if you’re going to display it in the middle of the table. Once you’ve got the greenery fixed, start placing other bits and pieces on, remembering to leave space for your candles. You can use the twine and string to hold things in place, tying them down or wedging them in. You’ll need the hot glue gun for small items or those that are a bit too fragile to tie.
Here’s a tip: cinnamon sticks, as well as looking good and being useful for supporting other materials, also give off a wonderful smell if you give them a scrape every now and again. A sort Yuletide scratch ‘n’ sniff.
Candles can be fixed either by sticking directly onto the log (good for larger candles), or by making candle holders e.g. out of walnut shell halves. If you’re using smaller candles or tee lights which are likely to burn down before Christmas is over, you can attach them by dripping a little candle wax where you them to stick – they’re then easier to pull off and replace, rather than if you’d used hot glue.
There is a certain art in knowing when to stop, sometimes less is more; but once you have indeed finished, light the candles on your Yule Log, step back and take a moment to admire your beautiful handiwork.
Helen Fichtel is an ex-Londoner living in Germany with husband, two boys aged 2 and 10, three rats, and a small brown dog called Holly. She loves making things, reading, cooking, photography and drinking wine; sometimes all at the same time.
Facebook Blog: www.facebook.com/helencooking
Instagram: www.instagram.com/snapshot_helen
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