Bûche de Noël was a cherished tradition in my childhood, prepared and served every Christmas. Growing up in Lebanon, my mother would bake multiple Bûches de Noël each year, gifting them to relatives. I fondly recall helping her in the kitchen, watching in awe as she transformed eggs, flour, sugar, and butter into these delectable creations. Even in the face of adversity, such as during wartime when it became difficult to bake as much, she maintained this tradition year after year. It was only a matter of time before I took on the task of carrying the torch, continuing this tradition in my own way.

he origins of the Bûche de Noël date back long before its modern form. It is believed to have begun with the Celts, who celebrated the winter solstice by burning logs in their hearths. Over time, this ceremony evolved into a Christmas tradition following the rise of Christianity. The logs were often decorated with ribbons, pinecones, and greenery, and the ashes were thought to have special properties—believed to eliminate bad spirits, cure illnesses, and enrich the soil.

As hearths were replaced with ovens, the tradition of burning a log gradually transformed into the practice of baking a cake shaped like a log. While the identity of the first person to create such a cake remains unclear, it quickly became a beloved Christmas tradition in France and other Francophone countries, including Lebanon.

Following the 1918 armistice, Lebanon came under the French mandate. For the years leading up to Lebanon’s independence in 1943, France helped establish the country’s constitution, improve its infrastructure, and expand its educational system, which was modeled after France’s. This influence left a lasting mark on Lebanese culture, particularly in cuisine. French patisseries flourished in Lebanon, offering a delightful array of baked goods—from baguettes and croissants to petits fours, mille-feuilles, and choux à la crème. These sweet treats have become as integral to Lebanese culture as traditional Middle Eastern dishes. The Bûche de Noël, once a French delicacy, was embraced and celebrated as part of the local Lebanese Christmas tradition.

Since 2018, I’ve shared photos of the Bûches de Noël I’ve prepared. As the years passed, my designs grew more elaborate as I gained experience and confidence in decorating. Each year, I added new touches and techniques, building on the foundation of my earlier creations. Below, you can see how my Bûches de Noël have evolved over the past five years.

References French Christmas Traditions: Buche de Noel, La Buche de Noel – Christmas Yule, Beyond Brioche: The History and Tradition of La Buche De Noel, The French Mandate in Lebanon, Mon Petit Four – Buche de Noel Recipe

Sylvie’s Bûches de Noël since 2018

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• Riverbanks Zoo Wild Lights, Columbia SC
• Christmas 2020 musings
• Daniel Stowe Holidays at the Garden
• James Island County Park, SC Festival of Lights
• Buche De Noel
• Brookgreen Gardens, SC – Nights of a Thousand Candles
• Christmas Town USA, NC
• Old Town Rock Hill, SC