Dr. Eikenaar-Klang, Whitman’s Advisor for the French Honor Society, describes an ancient French tradition dating back to the Middle Ages of burning a log from Christmas Eve until New Year’s Day.
It is said that farmers then used part of the log to attract a good harvest for the year.
Today, the tradition still lives on. But in modern times the log burning has evolved into the tradition of making a traditional log-shaped cake called the bûche de Noël, or Christmas log.
The log cake is served alongside many other pastries during Le Réveillon, a late supper held after midnight mass on Christmas Eve.
This tradition started as a simple meal of biscuits and a hot drink but eventually evolved into a grand feast. The meals vary from region to region but are all equally lavish.
The Whitman French Honor Society reenacted the tradition this holiday season, and a panel of hungry judges conferred and awarded the 2007 bûche de Noël first-place award to freshman Ammie Tamano, shown above with Dr. Eikenaar-Klang