The magic of the Rauhnächte
These are the 12 silent days between December 25 and January 6. The winter solstice has already happened, but during this period the nights stay about the same length. Only from January 6 do the days get noticeably longer every day. For the ancient Germans these were the holy days, the Rauhnächte. These were a time of purification, change and a new beginning. The ancient people during those holy days and nights performed their rituals to initiate a new fruitful year. [...]