In the Alps (Austria, Bavaria, Switzerland, South Tyrol), the Rauhnächte included incense rituals, protection rites for home and animals to cleanse and protect the space, invite blessings, and banish stagnant energies. People kept track of dreams, and sought messages that were believed to reveal something about the corresponding month of the year to come. This was a fundamental time for introspection, stillness & storytelling.

The outer world slept & the inner vision awakened.

They preserved the sense of crossing a threshold between worlds.

Why Are These Nights “Sacred”?

These nights are considered sacred because they are: A time outside time.

They do not fit into the old lunar or new solar year. They are a spiritual pause, a cosmic exhale, a portal.

The veil between worlds (intuition, ancestors, spiritual guidance) is believed to be thinner, making dreams, signs, and insights more vivid.

A period of cleansing: energetically, emotionally, and symbolically, one clears out the old year.

A time of creation: Each night is believed to correlate with a specific month of the coming year, allowing people to set intentions and receive guidance for each month.

In Modern Times we can honor the Sacred Nights

in a ritualized way to close the old year,

for a conscious entry into the new one,

for deep intuition and clarity,

for grounding during a chaotic time of year,

a way to reconnect with nature’s rhythms,

a mystical yet structured reflection practice.

They are a doorway into a more intentional life, and a return to ancient feminine, earth-based wisdom.