The 12 days after Christmas are a magical time.

Also known as the roughnecks, the bells nights, smoking nights or consecrated nights, these are the days starting on Christmas going until after the New Year.

In most regions of Europe, these twelve holy nights begin at night on the 25th of December and end on the 6th of January, the Epiphany.

This magical time is full of legends, fairy tales and myths. During this time, the Rauhnächten people still perform well-known rituals such as lead pouring, the smoking of houses and stables, and the star singing on January 6th.

The positions of the solar and lunar year form the annual cycle. With regard to the seasonal key points, the sun determines the great rhythms as the seasons, while the moon determines the earth-bound cycles in the annual cycle.

The 12 Rauhnächte

(The 12 Days after Christmas) are also a symbol for the 12 months of the following year and form a bridge between this world and the afterlife. In the bells, beasts should speak to the dead or appear ancestors and spirits.

The term Rauhnacht probably comes from the incense, because in the period between the years various herbs were smoked. At that time people were hoping to avert evil, bad and unpleasant things by burning them up.

The numerous rituals, customs, and forebodings in this particular time have been preserved in many regions of Europe. On Christmas Eve, ghost beings should have a very strong power, which is also the reason for the ringing of the church bells (din of bells) until the midnight mass.

The “Wild Hunt” in the Bavarian Forest drives, led by Mrs. Holle and Odin, their mischief at the time of Rauhnächte is another tradition. In order to propitiate the beings chasing through the air, residents put meat, cakes or legumes in front of the door. If someone hangs up white laundry at this time, he has to expect that Odin (god of the Vikiner) will grab a piece of laundry to use it as a shroud for the owner of the laundry.

One of the Rauhnächte rituals is the smoking of one’s own home. It serves to cleanse, to let positive energies flow into the house and drive out “evil spirits”.

As smoking plants, these are particularly suitable:
• spruce resin
• elder
• mistletoe

With the incense made of plants and resins, the incense burns through every room to energetically neutralizes each room and then fills it with thoughtful love.

In the time of the Rauhnächte, our perception is increased and we are more intuitive.

Meditating daily for a few minutes brings us serenity and inspiration. It is the time between the times. A sacred time in which this world and the hereafter merge. A time of love, of light and of reflection.

Get a notebook and write down what insights you have each day. Then, let me know in the comments below what comes up for you!
Wishing you and yours a happy new year ahead!

All my love,
Carollyne