[ success! john's lighting up, too.

and then— ah, he's being questioned. thankfully, once he's recalled what's saved from it, the reasoning behind it is a little less difficult to conjure. ]

Well... the portion is used to light next year's one. Tradition and all that. [ a shrug. the concept of The Log isn't something he's, uh, even vaguely used to, but he's trying: ] Another reason to keep it is 'cause it's meant to ward evil stuff off, I think.