YULE FIRES 351 



our forest vigil to the hearth in any home we will 

 find the world-ash, no longer weird and awesome 

 with the fates sitting silent at its foot, but trans- 

 formed into the very symbol of light and happi- 

 ness and cheer, the Christmas tree. In the light 

 of twenty centuries around the Yule log we have 

 forgotten to be afraid and have made out of our 

 weird dreams friendly fancies. Where once the 

 'fearsome dragon twined about the sun-tree we 

 simulate his folds with strings of pop-corn. The 

 unquenchable lights that flamed upon its twigs 

 are now twinkling candles. The sun, moon and 

 stars that once were the symbolic fruit grow 

 again in tinsel ornament and, where we follow 

 the legend closely, Eikthyner the stag, Heidrun 

 the goat, Freyer's boar and Wotan's ravens and 

 wolves, are hung in tiny effigy as confectioner's 

 sweets. Thus with the Christmas tree alight and 

 with the Yule log on the hearth we symbolize the 

 old worship of the sun-tree and of fire through 

 which we have grown to the better faith of which 

 Christmas is one great commemorative festival. 



THE END 



