The tradition of burning the Yule log traces back to previous solstice festivities and bonfires. The Christmas custom is to burn a chunk of the log every evening until Twelfth Night (January 6). The word "Yule" comes from the Norse word jol, which means "yew." The yew tree was important to the Norse culture because its wood was believed to have magical properties; it could see in the dark and even heal itself if injured. They also used the bark of the yew tree as medicine and burned it in fireplaces as an alternative to coal. In the 16th century, Scottish nobles built elaborate holiday houses called "yules" or "ulis" to celebrate the arrival of Christmas. These wooden structures were decorated with boughs cut from the evergreen yew tree and filled with gifts for the children. As the years went by, these yule trees became larger and larger until they reached 20 feet in height. In Victorian-era America, large versions of the yule tree were popular attractions at city streetscapes during Christmas time. Today, many people still enjoy the yule log festival. But instead of building huge trees, they build small fires using parts of the log. The fire is usually placed in a bowl or pot and surrounded by candles or other lights at night.