How to Watch a Yule Log Online

Getting cozy by a roaring fire is one of the best parts of winter. But for those of us who don't have fireplaces in our homes, a virtual Yule Log is the perfect way to feel like we're celebrating the holidays.

Whether you're looking for a birchwood fire, a wood-burning fireplace with Christmas music or an old-fashioned fireplace without music, there are plenty of options for you on Netflix and other streaming services.

Streaming

If you can’t have a fireplace and want to watch a yule log this holiday season, streaming services can provide a way to replicate that experience. These virtual fires can be seen in high-definition and come in a variety of sizes, resolutions, and sounds.

Netflix, for example, has a few yule log options, from a birchwood log to a fireplace with Christmas music. Roku also has a channel called Yule Log: 4K Fireplace for Your Home, which streams a roaring yule log that looks like it’s actually burning in your living room.

In addition, you can find a lot of Yule Log videos on YouTube throughout the holiday season. Some of them are animated, and some don’t.

One popular YouTube Yule Log is a Hallmark fireplace video that stars dogs and cats. It’s a cute and adorable video that doesn’t have much fire-cracking noise, but it does feature a variety of puppies, kittens, and bunnies as they hang out in front of the Christmas fireplace.

A more spooky and creepy take on the holiday fireplace is Adult Swim’s Yule Log. Unlike other Yule Log videos that start out with happy, Christmassy music playing over a warm fireplace, this one gradually gets darker and more menacing as it goes on.

The best part is that it’s all available on demand. It’s an hour-long event, and you can even play it before you go to sleep on Christmas Eve if you want.

Another option is to watch a yule log from Parks and Recreation star Nick Offerman, who took it upon himself to record a forty-five minute version of a yule log this year. It’s a great option for people who don’t want to have drinks alone on Christmas night, or who just want to relax with a drink and a fire.

Cable

Yule log has been a popular holiday tradition since it first debuted on television in 1966. It was a way for WPIX, then known as Gracie Mansion, to broadcast Christmas music in New York City homes without fireplaces, providing a free form of entertainment for viewers who could not otherwise celebrate the holiday.

It was a wildly successful program, according to The Wall Street Journal, and it remains a staple of local broadcasts. Today, it is aired on most Tribune-owned affiliates around the country.

In addition, many cable and TV providers offer yule logs via their On Demand channels. Depending on your provider, you can find versions with music, with or without a narrator, in 3D and even a version that is entirely birchwood.

The yule log has also become a beloved part of the movie industry, with countless versions of the holiday classic available on DVD and Blu-ray. Some of the most memorable include George Ford's Fireplace for Your Home, which is now available on Netflix and Amazon Prime, and a version called "The Merry Yule Log," featuring 13 burlesque dancers singing festive Christmas standards.

Those looking for a more darkly hilarious take on the Yule log can check out a version from Adult Swim. This video stars comedian Nick Offerman, who sits in an armchair with a roaring fire illuminating his surroundings as classic Christmas music plays in the background.

For those who enjoy watching cartoons, ChannelFrederator's "Friendship is Magic Yule Log," which features a yule log surrounded by the characters of the Hub Network, is another great option. The animation doesn't have the same mesmerizing quality as looped video, but it's a fun and entertaining way to spend some time this holiday season.

Satellite

If you don't have access to cable or a streaming service that carries the yule log, there are still options for you to watch it via satellite. For those living in the New York City area, WPIX still broadcasts the original Yule Log recording by satellite on channel 11. The video quality isn't as good as some of the modern versions it inspired, but it's a good way to keep your favorite Christmas tradition alive.

Comcast's On Demand service has several versions of the yule log, including a regular definition version, a 3D version, and a HD version. The yule log is also available on Roku, Fire TV, and Android TV.

Verizon's FiOS TV is another option for those in the market for a streaming television service. The company's new "Anywhere" feature allows you to view your favorite channels on your computer, tablet or smartphone. You can also use the Verizon Remote app to control your television.

Depending on the package you purchase, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (channel 565) may have a yule log. This channel is part of the Select, Entertainment, Preferred Xtra and Premier packages.

There's also a Christmas yule log on the Ambient Channel, which is part of the Spectrum Guide TV service in L-TWC coverage areas. This channel includes a collection of photos and videos set to Christmas music.

The original yule log aired on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in 1966, and was filmed at Gracie Mansion in New York. During the shoot, producers removed a protective fire grate to make it look more telegenic. Unfortunately, the stray spark damaged a rug worth $4,000 in the fireplace. Luckily, they found another location for the shoot, and this time a much safer one.

DVD

If you want to watch a yule log on DVD, there are a number of choices. These include a classic yule log, a version of the yule log from Frozen, and even one from Adult Swim.

There are also a few yule logs from the movies, such as the Star Wars and Doctor Who logs. The latter, in particular, is a great choice for fans of the television show.

In fact, this yule log video is available from Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, which has plenty of other Christmas movies to choose from this season. There’s also a yule log video featuring Happy the Cat and Happy the Dog, which is perfect for pet lovers.

Another option is the Crackling Yule Log Fireplace from George Ford, which features a variety of piano music backed by crackling logs. The video is presented in 4K high-def, and it runs an hour.

A third option is the Arendelle Castle Yule Log, which is from Disney+. It’s the quietest of the three, but it does feature some Christmas-themed decorations on the mantel.

It’s a good choice for kids, but it might not be ideal for adults who aren’t fans of the Disney animated movies. It’s also the least realistic of the bunch, as it doesn’t have any sort of pyre or flaming logs to set the scene on fire.

If you’re looking for a more traditional yule log, there’s also the WPIX Yule Log, which was filmed in 1966 on 16 millimeter film and aired for years on a loop on TV. This was a long-time tradition in New York City, but it was discontinued for good in 1989, as the station had to cut costs due to a downturn in the economy.

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The yule log is a holiday tradition that dates back to ancient times, particularly in medieval Scandinavia. It involves selecting a large log on Christmas Eve, dragging it home, and lighting it in the fireplace for 12 days until Twelfth Night.

There are many variations of this traditional custom, but the most popular is that a yule log symbolizes luck and prosperity for the coming year. The log was believed to be a special gift from the gods, and the ashes it produced were believed to be good for plants.

Some people believe that a yule log symbolizes good luck for the entire family and is burned to ensure that all will have a good year. Others believe that a yule log can be used to protect your house from lightning strikes in the upcoming year.

Yule logs were originally a part of a pagan festival that celebrated the winter solstice, a time when the sun reached its lowest point in the sky. This was also a time when the days began to grow longer.

In modern times, yule logs are typically decorated with symbolic herbs, flowers or candles. For example, pine cones are a symbol of the pine tree that remains green even in the darkest of winters, and rosemary is a herb that represents luck and protection.

The origins of yule logs are unknown, but most agree that they stem from pre-Christian Pagan rituals. Regardless of their origins, the ritual of burning a yule log has become an important part of winter festivals all over Europe. Today, yule logs are a common sight at Christmas time and can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.