2. The origins come from the ancient Celtic tradition of celebrating the winter solitude in the hopes that the sun would return. This celebration takes place on this shortest day of the year. It’s always between December 17-24. The Celts would search for a large trunk of wood (either oak, beech, elm or cherry) and burn it as a symbol of the rebirth of the sun, and offered their thanks to the sun for returning to the earth.

4. During the middle Ages the logs and the ceremony of the burning log became more detailed. The logs themselves would be decorated with ribbons, fruits & berries and greenery such as holly, mistletoe, and pine cones.

6. Then the youngest and the oldest member of each family would carry the log to the hearth (fireplace) and set it in the flames. It was left to burn for the whole night. The remains of the log & ashes would be collected the next day to be used for the whole year. They were thought to help cure various sicknesses and protect the house from the wickedness of the evil spirit.

7. The wish of the “bûche de Noël "May the log burn" "May the wheel turn" (May life continue) "May evil spurn" (May evil cease to be) "May the Sun return"

8. One of the famous stories behind “Le Bûche de Noël” is that Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor issued a proclamation stating that the houses in Paris had to keep their chimneys closed during the winter because it was believe the cool air that came in through the chimney caused medical problems. This prohibited Parisians to use their fireplaces. But ingenious French bakers then invented Bûche de Noël dessert as a symbolic substitution for the tradition “log on the fire.”

9. Le Bûche de Noël is well garnished and presented to look like a log ready for the fire. It is typically made from a sponge cake, filled with butter cream. Les Bûches de Noël are made to resemble a chopped off branch and bark-like texture is often formed in the frosting. Tree branches, mushrooms made of meringue, fresh berries, and powdered sugar to have an effect of snow are common decorations.

36. EASY bûche de noël -- Cake -- 5 Eggs separatedEggs 1 cup Powdered sugarPowdered sugar 3 tablespoon CocoaCocoa -- Filling -- 1 cup Whipping creamcream 1/4 teaspoon VanillaVanilla 1/4 cup Powdered sugarPowdered sugar 4 tablespoon CocoaCocoa -- Finishing touches – (be creative) Chocolate frosting (You can use chocolate butter cream or any kind you want) Candied spearmint leaves Cinnamon andies Peppermint candies