Christmas festivities have their roots in pagan beliefs and traditions.
A bit of history
In fact, the date of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, has always been of particular interest to people. It represented the beginning of a new cycle with the return of the sun to cultivate future harvests. Thus, December 25th was the date celebrated for the rebirth of the Sun Invictus and the Roman Saturnalia.
Moreover, Saturnalia lasted several days. People wore garlands around their necks and exchanged Christmas gifts... yes, even then! This origin can be seen in the very name of Noel, a synonym for "nativity" in many languages.
In numerous cultures, this day is also associated with various beliefs related to motherhood, fertility, reproduction, and even astronomy.
The pagan festival
It was not until the 4th century that this pagan festival was officially incorporated by Christians and became the commemorative date of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Biblical references have adopted the symbol of the new solar cycle, metaphorically calling Christ the "new sun" shining in the world. Thus, around December 25th, the celebrations of Nativity merge into the Easter cycle.
This latter cycle includes a preparatory phase, Advent, lasting 2 to 4 weeks, and a phase that recalls Jesus’ presentation at the Temple, ending on February 2nd, Candlemas. The midnight mass originated during the Middle Ages, while the development of the Nativity scene was established during the Renaissance.
The chocolate log
The famous chocolate log also has origins linked to the winter solstice, dating back to the Middle Ages. The day when the sun is at its lowest point on the horizon signals the harsh winter season. Consequently, each fireplace burns large pieces of wood to heat homes, creating a fire around which the whole family gathers.
Starting in the 12th century, the Catholic Church also revived this tradition by introducing various rituals such as sprinkling with holy water, salt, boiled wine, or oil. These rituals were to be performed for three days, under penalty of bad omens.
During the 19th century, heating devices like cast iron stoves replaced fireplaces. Wooden logs became decorative, before some pastry chefs had the idea to turn them into pastry logs.
Chocolate glazing resembles the bark of the natural log that was used before. Note that chocolate appears in Christmas traditions around the world, such as in El Salvador, where the turkey is topped with a layer of chocolate, or in Italy, where children receive pieces of chocolate from the witch Befana.
More about chocolate
Typically, cacao is grown in one part of the world while chocolate is manufactured and consumed in another. If you live in Central America, you're likely eating chocolate made from cacao beans cultivated in Africa or South America, even if it was produced in Switzerland or Mexico.
Though rare, there are exceptions. For example, in El Salvador, chocolate factories craft bars, truffles, and hot cacao drinks from locally grown cacao. Sometimes the owner of the business also cultivates the cacao.
This makes Salvadoran cacao ideal for their products. It is a very popular flavor generally, used in many sweets and confections. As a beverage, it is made with an infusion of hibiscus flowers, like tea, and sweetened afterward. The color is a beautiful deep reddish purple, and the taste is tart, similar to arándano (cranberry). Sometimes the tea is evaporated and dried into crystals, resembling colored sugar. These blends perfectly complement the rich cacao and floral notes of Salvadoran chocolate.
