The Russian mascot for the World Cup is a popular and iconic symbol representing the tournament. The mascot for the 2018 World Cup was a wolf named Zabivaka, which means "the one who scores" in Russian. Zabivaka was chosen through a nationwide voting process in Russia, where fans had the opportunity to vote for their favorite mascot design. Zabivaka is a friendly and energetic character that embodies the spirit of the tournament and the host nation. The wolf is depicted with a football jersey, shorts, and soccer shoes, showcasing its passion for the sport. The mascot has blue and white colors, which are also the colors of the Russian national team.
The mascot has blue and white colors, which are also the colors of the Russian national team. Mascots are an integral part of the World Cup, as they help create a sense of excitement and unity among the fans and participants. They often have a cultural significance and become symbols of the host country.
Christmas Log: How An Ancient Pagan Solstice Ritual got to be a log on your dinner table
A walk through the aisles of a grocery store during the holiday season is always filled with delectable treats centered around various Christmas traditions. One such item that has always intrigued me has been the Yule Log. A log. That you eat. Why in the Charles Dickens would you want to eat a log? Well, it turns out this tradition dates back thousands of years and here’s what it’s all about…
The Yule Log tradition appeared thousands of years ago in ancient Celtic/Scandinavian/Germanic tribes celebrating the Winter Solstice. They would find a giant tree trunk and set it on fire on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. This pagan tradition was to celebrate re-birth and these ancient people thought by burning certain types of trees such as elm, oak, beech and cherry trees it would help bring about mystical good luck in the days to come after the solstice.
During the time of these ancient celebrations both December and January were called Guili or “Yule”, and it was when this magical log was burned, one could count on a return of both light and heat from the sun’s rays.
Like most pagan traditions, they were quashed when Christianity took over, but then adopted by Christianity to fit into the agenda of the Catholic Church. The Yule Log celebration was no exception and in the 12th century the ceremony became Christian-ified with families hauling home huge logs with the youngest sibling riding it home, who brought good fortune and luck for the coming season. Once home, the medieval families would burn the massive log to bring positive future outcomes for all that were present.
The tradition carried on through the centuries and in the 1800’s the Yule log was recorded in “Christmas Observances” by J.B. Partridge with the following ritual as the proper way to celebrate the Yule Log:
•The Yule log is brought in, and is at once put on the hearth.
•It is unlucky to have to light it again after it has once been started, and it ought not go out until it has burned away.
•To sit around the Yule log and tell ghost stories is a great thing to do on this night, also card-playing.
•Just before supper on Christmas Eve while the Yule log is burning, all other lights are put out, and the candles are lighted from the Yule log by the youngest person present. While they are being lighted, all are silent and wish. The wish must not be told, but you see if you get it during the year. As soon as the candles are on the table, silence may be broken. They must be allowed to burn themselves out, and no other lights may be lighted that night.
Bringing in the traditional Yule Log.
As time moved on, large log burning fireplaces in the family home gave way to smaller hearths and so the Yule Logs got smaller. Then as we moved into the 20th century, fireplaces were replaced by furnaces and stoves, requiring the tradition to adapt once again. This time a smaller Yule Log was placed on the dinner table and candles places on top of the log surrounded by candies and treats that were handed out on Christmas Eve.
Soon the traditional real wooden table log was replaced by a cake log, which is our current incarnation of this ancient pagan ritual. The cake log is usually covered in chocolate icing and scraped with a fork to resemble the tree bark.
One of the last places to celebrate the real Yule Log was in Quebec so it is no surprise that most Yule Log cakes are produced by Quebec companies such as Vachon, who continue the tradition with their own version of the Yule Log that you see in the grocery store aisles. Both Dairy Queen and Baskin Robbins also offer Yule Logs as ice cream logs that probably should not be lit on fire.
Vachon still makes a Yule Log cake during the Christmas season available at your grocers. (Image: Vachon.com)
So there you have it, the history of the Yule Log, once an ancient pagan tradition of setting fire to a giant log to worship the sun that has now evolved into a cake you eat and wash down with a glass of egg nog…egg nog…now there’s another story…what is nog?
Merry Christmas!
•The Yule log is brought in, and is at once put on the hearth.
•It is unlucky to have to light it again after it has once been started, and it ought not go out until it has burned away.
•To sit around the Yule log and tell ghost stories is a great thing to do on this night, also card-playing.
•Just before supper on Christmas Eve while the Yule log is burning, all other lights are put out, and the candles are lighted from the Yule log by the youngest person present. While they are being lighted, all are silent and wish. The wish must not be told, but you see if you get it during the year. As soon as the candles are on the table, silence may be broken. They must be allowed to burn themselves out, and no other lights may be lighted that night.
Zabivaka is no exception, as it represents the friendly and hospitable nature of Russia. The Russian mascot for the World Cup plays a significant role in promoting the tournament and engaging with fans. Zabivaka appeared in various promotional materials, merchandise, and events leading up to and during the tournament. The mascot also interacted with fans through social media and special appearances, further enhancing the sense of connection and excitement. In conclusion, the Russian mascot for the World Cup, Zabivaka, is an important symbol that represents the tournament and the host nation. With its friendly and energetic personality, Zabivaka has become a beloved character among fans, and it has successfully contributed to the overall atmosphere of the World Cup..
Reviews for "Zabivaka: Inspiring Football Fans with Russian Spirit"
- John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the Russian mascot for the World Cup. It lacked creativity and originality. The design of the mascot was uninspiring and looked like a generic cartoon character. It failed to capture the spirit and excitement of the World Cup. Overall, I was underwhelmed by the Russian mascot and felt it was a missed opportunity to showcase the culture and history of the host country.
- Anna - 1 star - The Russian mascot for the World Cup was a complete letdown. It was unmemorable and lacked any personality. I couldn't even remember what it looked like as soon as I saw it. The mascot should have been a representation of the rich cultural heritage of Russia, but it fell flat. It was just another forgettable mascot in a long line of forgettable mascots. I expected more from the host country of such a prestigious sporting event.
- Michael - 2 stars - The Russian mascot for the World Cup was a disappointment in terms of design and symbolism. It looked like a generic animal character that had no connection to the host country's culture or history. The mascot should have represented the unique aspects of Russian culture and heritage, but it failed to do so. Overall, it was a missed opportunity to create a memorable and meaningful mascot for such an important event.
- Sarah - 1 star - The Russian mascot for the World Cup was a complete letdown. It lacked creativity and innovation. The design was dull and uninspired, and it felt like a generic mascot that could have been used for any event. I was hoping for a mascot that would capture the excitement and energy of the World Cup, but this one fell flat. It was a missed opportunity to create a unique and memorable mascot for the tournament.