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Hometown 1
Spotlight i
Hunting
the Yule Lorn
by MARTI ATTOUN
Contributing Editor
With red and green capes
flying, hundreds of children and
adults dash into the snowy woods
near Palmer Lake, Colo. (pop. 2,179),
scrambling up and down slippery
slopes and laughing as they search
beneath evergreen boughs and bushes for the town’s hidden yule log.
Within 15 minutes, whoops and shouts of “over here" rise from a ravine where
three boys stand victoriously over the treasure —an 8-foot-long pine log that has been
notched and tied with a red ribbon.
"They 'd covered up the ribbon with twigs and stuff," says John Clewe, 14. "I was
about to turn away, but saw footprints in the snow."
Amid cheers and high-fives, Clewe and his hunting companions, Collin Rue, 14,
and Owen Braley, 11, all from nearby Monument (pop. 1,971), straddle the yule log
for their victory ride into town. Other members of the hunting party attach two long
ropes to the log and drag it a quarter-mile back to Town Hall, stopping frequently so
other riders can hop aboard.
The December tradition is cherished in Palmer Like,
where the same two-man saw that cut the town's first
yule log in 1933 is used today. Hunters saw the
log in two and save half to start the fol
lowing year's ceremonial fire.
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has stocxl in the Town Hall kitchen, stirring
a large vat of wassail—hot spicy cider with
bits of orange, lemon and baked apple— i
with a wooden paddle. The warm drink is |
served first to the person or persons who find 1
the yule log, then to the townspeople and
visitors, who toast one another and wish each
other good health.
A tradition originating in ancient Europe,
the yule log ceremony began in Palmer Lake
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John Clewe (left) and Tim i
Watkins cut the yule log
with a two-man saw in
Palmer Lake, Colo.
Harry Krueger
and Dan Jones
carry The log to
the fireplace
in Town Hall.
after resident Lucretia Vaile attended a yule log hunt in Lake Placid, N.Y.
(pop. 2,638). Vaile brought a splinter from that town’s yule log to start the
celebration in Palmer Like, where participants parade across the wooden plank
stage at Town Hall at the start of the event while onlookers sing Christmas
carols and wish them a merry and success
ful hunt.
Those who stay behind visit with their
neighbors, enjoy musical entertainment
and listen to the Christmas story read from
the Bible.
“It’s part of the community, part of liv
ing here,” says Gan- Atkins, 55. “People
invite their family and friends and enjoy
walking in the woods."
A week before the yule log hunt, residents
gather for a potluck dinner and make sou-
venir lapel pins from willow twigs, rib
bon and pine boughs, and stamp them
with the year. Many people use them
7 for Christmas tree decorations.
'We've had people come up and
■Ho] vty. I haven't been here in 30 sears.
but nothing has changed,’" says
Es<;’. Patricia Atkins, 57 who emcees
the yule log ceremony.
The festival is in good hands for another generation, too. Kurt
Wm Voelker, 30, president of the Yule Log Committee, has photographs of
Km himself as a young boy helping his dad stir the wassail. Now his two
daughters, Kyah, 6, and Ayla. 4, carry the silver wassail cup and ladle
that has been used since the town's original ceremony in 1933.
Likewise, Heather Krueger, 3L has attended every’ celebration since she was
born. “I've sung, hunted, carried the wassail pitcher and found the log,” Krue
ger says. "It makes you feel like it s Christmas.”
This Palmer Lake Yule Log Hunt is scheduled Dec. 9. Visit
www.ci.palmer~lake.co.us or call (719) 481-2953 for more
information.
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Gary Atkins serves himself a
cup of warm, spicy wassail.
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Photos by Bryan Kelsen