You wouldn’t expect the French to use just any old wood for their yule logs, would you? Of course not, and you’d be right not to; in France, traditionally, cherrywood logs are used. Not only that but they are sprinkled with red wine so that the house smells even nicer as the log burns on Christmas Eve.
The yule log and candles burn all night to light the way for the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus, and a little food and drink is left out for them, just in case they are hungry.