Ancient Wisdom and the Twelve Nights of Rauhnächte

I am learning more about ancient traditions that were stamped out by modern religion and society, and one of the most fascinating is the period between December 25 and January 6.

Across many pre Christian European cultures, particularly Germanic and Alpine traditions, this time was known as the Twelve Nights or Rauhnächte. It was understood as a liminal space between years, a pause in the natural rhythm of life. Work slowed. Productivity was not the priority. Stillness, reflection, rest, dreaming, and ritual were culturally recognized and protected.

As modern religious structures and later industrial society took hold, these practices were largely stamped out or absorbed into more rigid frameworks. What was once a collective agreement to slow down became a season filled with expectation, consumption, and pressure to quickly return to normal pace.

What I find most interesting is how the body still responds the same way.

It is widely known that many people feel off after Christmas. Motivation drops. Productivity feels difficult or impossible. There is a strange sense of uncertainty, like we are not quite sure what we are supposed to be doing next.

In a hyper productive society, we do not have language for this experience. We often interpret it as something being wrong with us. But it seems very possible that this feeling exists because humanity has always slowed down during this time. Not because we could not do more, but because we were not meant to.

Can you imagine knowing, without guilt, that there was an entire stretch of time where being slow, calm, and inward was considered good for us.

Maybe nothing is wrong with us at all. Maybe this season is reminding us of something very old.