Overview
- The 12-night season is commonly observed from December 25 to January 6, with regional variations that sometimes begin on December 21.
- Rituals highlighted in current coverage include Räuchern to bless homes and oracular customs such as dream journaling, Tyrolean Leaslen, tarot, and the widely practiced 13-wishes ritual.
- Traditional prohibitions feature prominently—no laundry, no cutting hair or nails, and staying indoors after dark for women and children—though reporting notes such rules are often viewed as out of step with modern life.
- Folklore frames the period as a time when the spirit world draws near, with the Wild Hunt legend used to explain noise-making, house-order rules and other protective practices.
- A visible revival is underway, with Perchten runs, markets and themed Rauhnacht walks scheduled through January 6 in Bavaria, Austria and South Tyrol, while one article asserts antiseptic benefits of smoke without strong sourcing.