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Make a Yule Log

If you've got a fireplace, this tradition is a great way to celebrate with family and friends, reflect on the past year and the upcoming New Year.

A European tradition, the yule log would come from your own land or given as a gift (never bought). Then it would be decorated with greenery, sprinkled with cider or ale, dusted with flour, and set ablaze!

What you need:

One large log
Fresh holly sprigs
Pine cones
Other seasonal greenery (pine branches, spruce, ect.)
Small amount of flour (for "snow")
Flour sifter
Newspaper
Hot glue gun

What you do:

Have the kids hunt around the backyard or a local park for decorations for your Yule Log. They can look for holly, pine cones (big ones and little ones), pine branches, acorns or another kind of greenery that is safe to burn indoors.
Time to begin construction. Lay out newspaper on a large open table and spread out all the children's finds.
Place the log in the center of the newspaper so all the kids can reach and arrange the different items on the log. Remember you can layer objects on top of each other!
Grown-up part: A hot glue gun works best for affixing the decorations. Glue guns can get extremely hot. If you use one, tell the children, "Do Not Touch."
Sprinkle a small amount of flour with the sifter on the log -- making it look like it just snowed! It's best to do this right before you put it in the fire place.
Now on Christmas Eve your family and friends can enjoy and reflect on the year past and look forward to a brighter future.
Save a piece of the burned Yule Log for next year's fire. Start next year's Christmas Eve fire with a piece of charred wood from the this year's log. It's said to bring safety and good luck to your home!