The Subterranean Log That Breathed Fire

In the volcanic Auvergne region, an old superstition focused on the Souche de Noël (the Christmas stump). Instead of a standard log, locals would harvest a thick tree root from the rich volcanic soil. It was believed that because the root grew deep underground, it held the "internal heat of the earth." Burning it on Christmas Eve was thought to protect the family's cattle from hoof rot and keep the farmhouse safe from winter lightning strikes.