What are the Rauhnächte?
The "holy nights" between the years are described as the Rauhnächte - a transitional period in which the old of the past year passes and the new has not yet begun. In many cultures, it is believed that during these twelve - sometimes thirteen - nights, the veil "between the worlds", i.e. the visible and invisible worlds, is particularly thin. Consciousness is more open and the boundary between what we can perceive and what lies beyond begins to blur. This opens the space for clearer insights and inspirations.
Traditionally, this time invites us to look deeper within and to turn to processes of purification and transformation with openness and curiosity. People often use the Rauhnächte to burn incense, pay special attention to their dreams and consciously prepare for the coming year. Each day of the Rauhnächte is symbolic of a month of the new year. This is intended to help with reorientation and invite everything that is desired in the new year.
When do the Rauhnächte begin?
Today, the Rauhnächte and the associated rituals are usually practiced between Christmas Eve and Epiphany - in other words, they begin on the night of 24 to 25 December (at midnight on 25 December). Some traditions start as early as December 21, at the winter solstice - the turning point of the light. From then on, the sun slowly returns - a symbol of new beginnings and inner renewal.
A Rauhnacht lasts either from midnight to 11:59 pm or from dusk to dawn. So if you decide to start the first Rauhnacht at midnight on December 25, it will end at 11:59 pm on the same day.
When do the Rauhnächte end?
Most people celebrate the Rauhnächte for twelve nights. If you start them on the night of December 24th to 25th, they end on the night of January 5th to 6th - the day of the Three Wise Men. The last night marks the end of the transition period. Many people use this last day for a special ritual: they burn their wishes, burn incense in their homes or set intentions for the coming year.
What rituals and instructions are there for the Rauhnächte?
Themes of the Rauhnächte
Each Rauhnacht relates to a month of the coming year. This creates a symbolic link between the rituals and practices of the Rauhnächte and the direction of the new year.
Themes and months of the Rauhnächte 2025/2026:
Rauhnacht: December 24 to 25
Month: January
Theme: Looking back on the past year, letting go of the old
Rauhnacht: December 25 to 26
Month: February
Theme: Come to rest, find inner peace
Rauhnacht: December 26 to 27
Month: March
Theme: Opening your heart to yourself and others
Rauhnacht: December 27 to 28
Month: April
Theme: Trust in your own intuition and inner wisdom
Rauhnacht: December 28 to 29
Month: May
Theme: Self-care and enjoyment
Rauhnacht: December 29 to 30
Month: June
Theme: Friendships and relationships, forgiveness and healing in relationships
Rauhnacht: December 30 to 31
Month: July
Topic: Perceiving and accepting your own feelings
Rauhnacht: January 31 to 1
Month: August
Theme: Setting visions and goals for the new year
Rauhnacht: 1 to 2 January
Month: September
Theme: Sorting and prioritizing
Rauhnacht: January 2 to 3
Month: October
Theme: Developing mindfulness for the present moment
Rauhnacht: January 3 to 4
Month: November
Theme: Gratitude for what is
Rauhnacht: 4 to 5 January
Month: December
Topic: Recognizing and integrating the insights and meaning of the Rauhnächte
Rituals for the Rough Nights
A ritual during the Rauhnächte is a very deliberate moment. You can find countless instructions and exercises for the Rauhnächte in books or online. Some are very simple, others involve more effort. So that you don't get lost in the huge selection, you should first ask yourself which ritual feels right for you. After all, it is crucial that you feel comfortable with it and what inner attitude you adopt.
Typical Rauhnächte rituals are:
- Incense: Incense can help to release the old from rooms, body and mind and open up to the new.
- Sound rituals: Singing Bowls can support the time of silence and retreat - they help with centering and open the consciousness.
- Journaling: Notes and impulses help to better understand topics of the old year and to find more clarity.
- Dream diary: Dreams can provide deep insights into current life issues and future decisions.
- Wishes & gratitude: A popular ritual is to write down 13 wishes and burn them one by one.
A gentle introduction to the Rough Nights rituals is achieved with incense burning and a short meditation. If you accompany your ritual with sound, it is even easier to create an atmosphere of mindfulness and depth.
Why do we burn incense during the Holy Nights?
The incense burning of rooms or of one's own body and mind is a very old ritual that is still performed today in very different traditions and on different occasions. Woods, herbs, resins or even incense papers are usually used to burn incense, which are also said to have different effects. The rising smoke symbolizes purification and transformation. During the Rauhnächte, incense is often used to clear rooms or cleanse one's own inner field - it is an invitation to let go of the old and open up to the new.
When you combine incense and sound, a very special space is created: the sound helps you to open up and the smoke helps to clear or move what you want to let go of. This can release the past and create a new space for change.
These are typical incense:
- Resins such as frankincense, myrrh or spruce resin
- Woods such as palo santo, cedar wood or sandalwood
- Smoking bundles with dried herbs such as white sage, rosemary or mugwort
- Incense papers with essential oils such as benzoin, citrus oils or lavender
Open up new spaces with sound and incense: Rauhnächte Singing Bowls Set
Our Rauhnächte Singing Bowls Set combines two very powerful elements - sound and smoke - to create a special ritual of awareness: the combination of sound, incense and fragrance opens the space for transformation.
The set consisting of Peter Hess® Therapy Singing Bowl - Small Heart Bowl, Incense SingingSinging Bowl, Zen incense paper from ZoaZen, small ritual booklet and matching accessories invites you to consciously create your space for peace, mindfulness and rituals every day. It enables you to create simple daily rituals and inspires you to get creative.
Open yourself to new things with our Peter Hess® Heart Bowl and the Incense SingingSinging Bowl
The finely vibrating heart bowl invites you to consciously open yourself to the special energy of the Rauhnächte. It supports you in mindfulness exercises, sound massages and in releasing tension and promoting lightness. The Incense SingingSinging Bowl gives you clarity and presence, while the incense paper scented with bergamot oil has a balancing effect and brightens the mood.
Combine the sound of the heart bowl with the scent of the incense paper in meditative moments - this way you can let go of the old and open up to the new during the Rauhnächte - mindful, centered and sensually accompanied.
Get to know our Rauhnächte Singing Bowls Set even better.
Letting go ritual with the Rauhnächte Singing Bowls Set
Write what you want to release or strengthen on a piece of incense paper. Fold it, light it carefully and place it in the Incense SingingSinging Bowl. Then gently hit the incense singingSinging Bowl first and then the heart bowl. Repeat this as often as you like. Watch the smoke rise, listen to the sounds and feel how the smoke and sound lead you into a moment of silence.
Incense rituals with the incense and sound set
We also have something new for you for short moments of mindfulness or Rauhnächte rituals: our incense and sound set. This set is smaller than the Rauhnächte set and comes with an incense singingSinging Bowl, ZoaZen incense paper, mallets and felt coasters. In the enclosed small booklet you will also find inspiration for your daily meditations and rituals.
Get to know our incense and sound set even better.
Wishes for the Rauhnächte - the ritual of the 13 wishes
A popular ritual during the Rauhnächte is the ritual of the 13 wishes. You write a wish for the coming year on 13 pieces of paper - preferably on incense paper. Each wish you write down represents a month of the new year. During the twelve nights of incense, you then draw a piece of paper every night without reading it and burn it. You open the remaining 13th wish at the very end. You are responsible for its fulfillment in the coming year.
When should you write down the wishes?
Write down your wishes before the Rauhnächte begin. This can be very shortly before the first Rauhnacht or even weeks before if you want to have even more clarity about your wishes.
When should you burn the wishes?
Start on the first day of smoking (December 25) in the evening and draw your first wish. Then burn it unread in a fireproof container such as our Incense SingingSinging Bowl. Open the last piece of paper on the last day of incense burning and keep it for your own fulfillment (6 January).
What happens if you forget to burn a wish?
If you forget a wish, that's no problem: you can simply make up for it the next day. The most important thing is your inner attitude and not absolute perfection.
Examples - Wishes for the Rauhnächte
To inspire you, we have put together some wishes for the Rauhnächte for you. In the end, however, wishes are always individual - so feel inside yourself to see which wish really resonates with you.
- My wish for the new year is to be more conscious with my time and to set clear priorities.
- I want to regularly incorporate moments of peace and mindfulness into my everyday life.
- I want to channel my energy into projects that really fulfill me.
- I hope to face challenges with confidence in the new year.
- I want to cultivate relationships that are based on authenticity, appreciation and clarity.
Of course, you can also align your wishes with the above-mentioned themes of the twelve rough nights - but this is not a must.
Which meditations are suitable for the Rauhnächte?
Meditation can help you to calm down during the Rauhnächte and consciously focus on the new.
Here is a simple meditation with our Incense SingingSinging Bowl:
- Light a candle and light your incense paper on it.
- Extinguish the flame and place the paper in the Singing Bowl to smoulder.
- Strike the Incense SingingSinging Bowl and listen to the sound until it fades away.
- Breathe in and out deeply and imagine how you let the events of the day or something you want to let go of flow out into the smoke with your breath.
- Watch as the smoke rises towards the sky.
- Strike your Singing Bowl again when the sound has faded.
- Repeat steps 4 to 6 for as long as you like.
This simple sound meditation with Incense SingingSinging Bowl combines breath, sound and incense - a centering ritual for evenings and during the Rough Nights.
Preparation: How can you prepare for the Rauhnächte?
You can start preparing mindfully weeks before the Rough Nights. The more consciously you approach this time, the more powerful it can be for you. Perhaps you will find the time to tidy up, tie up loose ends and create a place of peace for your rituals. Lay out the things you need for your Rough Nights rituals: a Singing Bowl, incense, wish lists, a journal or notebook, a candle ... This way you can start each evening mindfully - with a moment of stillness, focus and clarity.
Where do the Rauhnächte come from?
Various sources indicate that the origins of the Rauhnächte can be found in Germanic and Celtic cultures. Over the course of time, these ancient customs were mixed with Christian influences and have been passed on in various forms to this day.