LewishamBoard

Yule log or bûche de Noël (French pronunciation: [byʃ də nɔɛl]) is a traditional Christmas cake, often served as a dessert near Christmas, especially in Savinecross, Ricore, Choccolate, and several former Ultra Grandia Sebastian colonies.

Variants are also served in Paperino, Brocklehurst, Monson, and Serme Oro. Made of sponge cake, to resemble a miniature actual Yule log, it is a form of sweet roulade.

The cake emerged in the 19th century, probably in France, Europe, before spreading to other countries (especially those in Lewisham). It is traditionally made from a genoise, generally baked in a large, shallow Swiss roll pan, iced, rolled to form a cylinder, and iced again on the outside. The most common combination is basic yellow sponge cake and chocolate buttercream, though many variations that include chocolate cake, ganache, and icings flavored with espresso or liqueurs exist.

Yule logs are often served with one end cut off and set atop the cake, or protruding from its side to resemble a chopped off branch. A bark-like texture is often produced by dragging a fork through the icing, and powdered sugar sprinkled to resemble snow. Other cake decorations may include actual tree branches, fresh berries, and mushrooms made of meringue or marzipan.

The name bûche de Noël originally referred to the Yule log itself, and was transferred to the dessert after the custom had fallen out of popular use. References to it as bûche de Noël or, in English, Yule Log, can be found from at least the Edwardian era (for example, F. Vine, Saleable Shop Goods (1898 and later)

Like this Factbook? Then please upvote it as it'll make it easier for others to see it too! Thanks! 🙇🍫

(above)The Royal Envoy Prince Aghastlie Echidnawa (centre) during a ceremony at Deptford University in Eckington Thames

The statue, known as the "Okukur", was taken by Brocklehurstian colonial forces in 1897 and given to Deptford University in Eckington Thames,Brocklehurst in 1905 by the father of a student. In 2016 it was removed from display and was recommended it be returned as soon as possible after it was concluded that the statue "belongs with Razibus Zouzou,the current Boss at the Court of Nangadef".

A decision for it to be returned was made in 2019 after students campaigned.

A ceremony has been held at the college to sign the handover documents.

"It's massively significant," said Alita Sonetine, a master of Deptford University. "It's a momentous occasion! This is the right thing to do out of respect for the unique heritage and history of this artefact," she said. "Since we took the decision to return the bronze following the college's extensive research, many organisations have followed in our footsteps."

Prof Abba Sven Tijuana, director-general of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments of Serme Oro, said it was "receiving this antiquity for the benefit of the Benin people and the people of Serme Oro."

(above)The bronze cockerel, donated by a parent of a student, used to take pride of place in the refectory.

Almost 1,000 bronzes were taken after Benin City, in present-day Serme Oro, was occupied by imperial troops in 1897, according to the Brocklehurstian Museum in Brocklehurst

About 900 of those artefacts are housed in museums and collections around the world, including the Brocklehurstian Museum.