The 12 days of Christmas is forever immortalized in the English-speaking world in the classic carol composed originally in 1909. It refers to the old traditions of gift-giving during the Christmas season at a time when tradition reigned supreme.

In the German-speaking world, however, the 12 days of Christmas are called Raunächte. It refers to a time when ghouls and dark premonitions roam the wild winter landscape. It‘s a far cry from the jolly English carol but rather, a time to be cautious and stay indoors so that the malevolent spirits don‘t bring bad fortune into the New Year.

What does Raunächte mean?

The meaning of Raunächte has been long disputed by scholars. It‘s now generally agreed that it doesn‘t come from the German word for smoke Rauchen referring to incense burnt in the home, as previously thought.

The word Raunächte comes from an old German word rûch meaning rough, hairy. It refers to the demons believed to be dressed in fur who would cause mischief and mayhem in villages. This is best seen in the tradition of Krampus or Perchta in Alpine countries—the demon that is said to accompany Saint Nicholas to teach naughty children a lesson.

Why are there 12 days of christmas?

The 12 days of Christmas or Raunächte, between December 25 and January 5, carry special significance because of the calculation of the old lunar calendar. The lunar calendar comprises of 354 days, meaning that 11 days and 12 nights are missing entirely from the calculation of the calendar.

The days became to be known as a period “outside of time” or “dead days” which led to mythology springing up about these supposed missing days. It was believed that the laws of nature were suspended, and the boundaries between our world and the mystical Otherworld were thinnest.

It wasn‘t until Pope Gregory XIII reformed the calendar in the 14th century that the New Year was celebrated on January 1. In fact, before this time the New Year was celebrated on January 6 after the so called dead days.

The magic of the raunächte

The mythology and rituals during the 12 days of Christmas in Alpine countries focused heavily on the exorcism of demons from the home and the surrounding village.

Traditions focused on magic and harnessing “good magic” to eradicate harmful demons and spirits. Herbs gathered during this time were said to be especially potent for healing and casting spells. Brooms made during this time were also said to have the power to sweep away evil from the home.

Medieval people were also cautious to hang laundry for fear the spirits would tangle themselves in it and be unable to leave. The same goes for mess and clutter—demons are attracted to chaos and so it makes sense to have the home neat and orderly. One tradition done to scare away evil spirits was to knock loudly on doors or ring bells through the town.

Another strange ritual has to do with animals. Medieval people believed that during the 12 days of Christmas, since the laws of nature were turned on their head, animals were said to speak in a human language at midnight and would reveal the secrets of the future. The catch is if you would hear the animals talking then death was not far off.

During the Raunächte, medieval people were concerned immensely with not only eradicating malevolent spirits but also on death. The fear of death during the colder months makes sense—a time when food was scarce and wood for the fire running low. Rituals were done to preserve health and ward off illness or misfortune.

The demons krampus and perchta

The Raunächte in the medieval world had a strong focus on winter-time demons like Krampus and Perchta. In Alpine communities, the demon Krampus was symbolised as a half-man, half-goat figure with large horns and grotesque features. Clad in furs, carrying chains, birch branch whips, and a sack, Krampus would roam the land to deliver punishments to children who had misbehaved through the year.

Krampus to the medieval mind was the balance of the world. There‘s Saint Nicholas, symbolising the church, who brings gifts and good tidings, and there‘s Krampus representing the shadow. Although scholars have thought that perhaps Krampus comes from an older pagan tradition—perhaps the worship of a mountain goat that abound in Alpine areas.

Frau Perchta is another Alpine demon figure that is similarly dressed in furs and appears either as haggard and old or youthful. In some writings, she‘s said to have a goose foot, showing unwitting passers by her non-human origins. Her name means “the shining one” which relates more to her being a spector or ghost than a shining, comforting figure.

Figures like Perchta or Krampus were so feared because they were said to arrive in the home unexpectedly. If Perchta found that you had been spinning when such work was forbidden during the 12 nights, she would whip the young maiden and chastise her. If however the home was neat and orderly, she might grant you a wish.

This is best seen in the German folklore story of Frau Holle, a Northern German equivilent to Frau Perchta. In the story, a young maiden is asked to do chores for the old woman to prepare for the New Year. When she does so graciously, the demon grants her riches. However the other girl who does not comply with Frau Holle‘s requests gets bad luck that sticks with her for life.

In Austria, Perchta was said to leave a silver coin in a shoe if the inhabitants of the house looked worn out from their year‘s work. If they hadn‘t, she would rip out their innards and replace them with straw. One ritual to turn the tide in their favour was to leave out a small meal for Perchta so she might take pity on those inside.

The medieval mindset of working hard to rest during the 12 days is evident here. We can see the values of the past and how traditions were strictly adhered to. Of course these myths and traditions remind me also of the ancient wild hunt.

Connection to the wild hunt

The Wild Hunt is a folklore motif that has its roots throughout Europe, which has led many scholars to deem it a relic of our ancient past. It denotes prominent gods and goddesses, and in German regions this includes Frau Holle, Perchta, and Krampus.

A ghostly army of hunters was said to rumbles across the skies and descend on communities in the dark of night, which is a large reason why medieval people stayed indoors during the 12 nights.

The armies of the hunt were said to be made up of fallen men from battle. It could indicate a way that the dead were remembered—a final hunt before retiring to the afterlife.

Historian Carlo Ginzburg in his research into the pre-Christian traditions of Northern Italy theorized that the Wild Hunt became more demonic and fear provoking as the church gained in power. It could be that at first, the Wild Hunt was a phenomena that was not directly associated with the ghoulish, but simply a time of year.

“Through a long elaboration by theologians, demonologists and inquisitors, the ranks of the wandering dead were reshaped and distorted until they took on the monstrous physiognomy of the witchcraft sabbath.”

— Carlo Ginzburg, Ecstasies: Deciphering the Witches' Sabbath

Much of Ginzburg‘s research centers on old agrigarian cultures of anicent times. In a time before the Catholic Church, oral traditions abounded of malevolent spirits seeking to destroy crops and ruin entire communities. The Wild Hunt lets us see into their minds.

Ginzburg believes that the tradition of running around the village dressed as a Krampus or Perchta, clad in furs and causing menace, harkens back to a time of “dead armies” where disgusing yourself as an animal could help to confuse the spectors in the sky. It was in a sense, a way for humans to join the ghostly hunt without being harmed.

“(The rituals) in which individuals disguised as animals run about village streets, generally during the “twelve days” of Christmas….are very closely related to the myth of the “savage army”, with the disguised individuals personifying, or having personified, the assemblage of the errant dead.”

— Carlo Ginzburg

why celebrate the 12 days of christmas?

Having a sense of tradition and ritual can help us as humans organize and prioritize our lives. The 12 days of Christmas or Raunächte can be a time of reflection and introspection.

Journalling to get our thoughts straight, preparing herbal teas, and cleaning up our homes before January 6 is a great way to get everything in line for the New Year.

We can remember those that have long left our physical world and try to connect with nature as it hibernates ready for spring.

The Meaning of the 12 Days of Christmas