Yule log, a longstanding holiday tradition, has deep pagan origins that date back centuries. **The Yule log is a symbol of the winter solstice, a pagan festival celebrating the rebirth of the sun.** Pagans believed that during the winter solstice, the sun would begin its journey back to earth, bringing warmth and light. To honor this event, they would gather around a large fire and burn a specially selected log, known as the Yule log. **The Yule log was often chosen with great care and considered a sacred object.** It was typically made from a tree that held spiritual significance, such as oak or ash.
It’s a neat trick and I like the customization allowing me to duplicate the Home Screen. Of course, that doesn’t matter much if it immediately pops up the (not iMessage) chat screen as soon as the card is selected. Not to mention, when the app is opened, the status bar is hidden unless the image is reselected (and, for buttonless iPhones, the swipe bar is displayed even though it wouldn’t appear on the actual Home Screen).
Lately, Raphael has been offering some of his secrets online to help spread joy in the pandemic, though he was working on techniques and strategies for performing magic over the internet as far back as the early 2000s. I found myself grinning ear-to-ear as I watched them perform the aforementioned cup and ball trick, forgetting momentarily I was even in VR or playing an interactive experience.
** It was typically made from a tree that held spiritual significance, such as oak or ash. The log was decorated with various symbols and offerings, such as evergreens, pinecones, and ribbons. These adornments represented the abundance of nature and the coming of spring.
What Does It Take to Fool Penn and Teller?
Seth Raphael SM ’07 has made a career out of intertwining magic and technology. He has been a global TED fellow, was the chief magical officer (yes, really) at Bump Technologies, and is now a software architect at Google, where he recently moved from the augmented reality team to a team that he can only reveal is “prototyping the future of work.” In April, he appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, performing a classic mind-reading trick with concealed high-tech underpinnings. (Spoiler: He fooled them.)
As a child, Raphael fell in love with magic after he inherited magic books from his grandfather and tricks that he’d created. A little later, he got into computers, and by the time he was in high school he was combining both interests. “I was programming my computer to basically do what was in the magic books, taking these tricks that I had been performing and putting the computer in the role of the magician,” he says.
Raphael, who lives in Portland, Oregon, with his partner and their five young children, earned a bachelor’s degree at Hampshire College in the future of magic, a major he designed that involved technology and magic, before joining the affective computing group of MIT’s Media Lab to work with Rosalind Picard, professor of media arts and sciences. “The joy of the Media Lab is they encourage exploration of your passions and intersection with the interests of your research group and the sponsors,” he says. “Any crazy idea I got, I could just go out and create.”
Outside the classroom at MIT, he performed open-source magic shows, inviting audience members to stick around afterward if they wanted to know how he did his tricks—and many did. Unlike most magicians, he would explain his process and then ask for their feedback. The shows led him to his thesis work, part of which revealed that learning the secrets behind magic tricks increased viewers’ enjoyment and made them interested in seeing more magic. “For me, the secrets have never been so tightly guarded,” he says. “I want there to be a questioning and an openness.”
Lately, Raphael has been offering some of his secrets online “to help spread joy in the pandemic,” though he was working on techniques and strategies for performing magic over the internet as far back as the early 2000s. “I feel like finally the world is ready,” he says. He has connected with a large online community that’s interested in his Zoom-era magic tricks, and in sharing, and he has released a couple of tricks on his website that have been very popular. “Whereas a lot of magicians are just bringing their card tricks and holding up a deck of cards, my magic is sort of transformative in the way of thinking about the medium as the message: How do you use Zoom and the internet for magic?” he says.
Raphael welcomes the various challenges of tech-based magic and says that two “hooks” have set it apart for him: “You have to understand your audience’s understanding of technology and what they think computers or technology can’t do. If computers can do anything, then nothing is magical. So, you really have to find that edge of where people believe the limit of technology is, and then you go two steps beyond that,” he says. “And then the other end is really looking at technology and saying, Hey look, it is magic, we have magic powers, what do people wish they could do?…Let’s think about what people really wish they could accomplish or have in their life, and let’s design technology toward that.”
What would his grandfather think of the magic he’s making now? “I’m pretty certain he would love it. He was a scientist, and I think he would be amazed by all the technology but just be tickled that the tradition continues of pushing the bounds of what’s possible.”
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**The Yule log was lit on the eve of the winter solstice and burned throughout the night.** It was believed that the longer the log burned, the greater the blessings it would bring in the coming year. The ashes of the Yule log were considered sacred and often scattered on fields or used in rituals to promote fertility and prosperity. With the spread of Christianity, many pagan traditions were incorporated into Christian holidays, including the Yule log. **Although its original pagan significance has evolved, the Yule log remains a symbolic representation of light and warmth during the darkest time of the year.** Today, it is often made of birch or oak and burned in the fireplace or as a decorative centerpiece during Christmas celebrations. **In conclusion, the Yule log is rooted in pagan beliefs and serves as a reminder of ancient winter solstice celebrations.** While its significance may have changed over time, the Yule log continues to be a cherished holiday tradition that brings warmth and cheer to homes around the world..
Reviews for "Decoding the pagan traditions of the Yule log: an enlightening journey"
1. Name: Sarah - Rating: 2/5
I was really excited to read "Exploring the pagan origins of the yule log" as I thought it would shed some light on the history and traditions behind this Christmas symbol. However, I found the book to be quite disappointing. Instead of offering in-depth research and analysis, the author seemed to touch only briefly on the topic, leaving me feeling unsatisfied and unenlightened. I was hoping for a more comprehensive exploration that would dive into the pagan roots and explain how they have influenced the modern-day celebrations. Unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations.
2. Name: Mark - Rating: 1/5
I have always been intrigued by the pagan origins of various Christmas traditions, so I was excited to come across "Exploring the pagan origins of the yule log." However, this book failed to deliver what it promised. It lacked depth and substance, merely scratching the surface of the topic. The author seemed more interested in presenting their personal opinions rather than providing a well-researched and informative exploration. I was left feeling frustrated and unsatisfied with this book, and I would not recommend it to anyone seeking a thorough understanding of the yule log's pagan origins.
3. Name: Emily - Rating: 2/5
When I picked up "Exploring the pagan origins of the yule log," I was hoping to gain a deeper understanding of the historical context and significance of this Christmas tradition. Unfortunately, the book failed to meet my expectations. The author's writing style was dry and lacked excitement, making it difficult to stay engaged with the content. Additionally, I was disappointed by the lack of in-depth research and analysis. The book felt more like a surface-level overview rather than a comprehensive exploration. Overall, it was a missed opportunity to delve into the pagan roots of the yule log, and I would not recommend it to those seeking a detailed examination of this topic.