Every year at around this time, the residents of Metro Vancouver, who are also Shaw cable subscribers, are treated with a special broadcast. It is the 24 hour, 7 day per week video of a bunch of logs burning in a fireplace, formerly known as the Yule Log, and now called the Holiday Fireplace. In this post, I will refer to it as the Yule Log.

Sometimes, when people see the Yule Log for the first time, they might laugh at it a bit and wonder why there would be a channel that just shows logs burning in a fireplace all the time. Since most of the people I have met in Vancouver since I moved here were people from other countries and newcomers, I have seen this kind of reaction a lot. However, it doesn’t take them long to realize that it’s actually quite a nice thing to have, especially during the holidays.

Just as a fireplace can make a huge impact on the overall atmosphere and comfort experienced in your living room, so can the Yule Log. It’s really nice to have it on in the room when you’re relaxing or entertaining guests, and you can even hear the crackling sounds as the wood burns.

The Yule Log on my 42" plasma TV, 2009

The Yule Log on my 42" plasma TV, 2009

Of course, nothing beats a real fireplace. There are also the imitation fireplaces, many of which can also put out a bit of heat. However, if you don’t have a house and/or don’t have the extra money, the Yule Log is a good substitution. It may be “the poor man’s fireplace,” but at least it doesn’t require any maintenance, such as storing and burning wood, and making sure the room doesn’t fill with smoke or catch on fire.

You can enjoy the Yule Log this year on channel 2, as usual. If you have a digital box or PVR, you can also view it in high definition on channel 313.