Rauhnächte 13 wishes
the ritual to do along
In the thirteen-wishes ritual you write thirteen wishes on December 24. In each of the twelve nights you burn one without reading it. On January 6 one is left, and that one you take care of yourself. Here you can do it digitally too; your wishes stay on this device.
Rauhnächte 2026/27
The Rauhnächte 2026/27: from December 25 to January 6, twelve nights for twelve months.
Prepare your 13 wishesContents
In three steps
December 24
Write and fold 13 wishes.
Twelve nights
Each evening burn one note unread.
January 6
Open the last one: it is yours to do.
Video · 37 seconds
The 12 Nights 13 Wishes
The 13 wishes ritual is a custom for the twelve nights between Christmas and Epiphany. One of thirteen wishes becomes your personal theme for 2027.
Read along
Of your 13 wishes for the new year, only one is your job. That is the idea behind the 13 wishes ritual for the twelve nights. On December 24, you write 13 wishes on small notes. Each night, you burn one without reading it. Imagine you post 12 letters and just let them go. A thirteenth letter, you deliver yourself. This is an invitation to check for yourself. What do you hand over, and what do you take care of personally? Try the ritual for yourself this year at theastroacademy.com.
The 13 wishes ritual is a popular custom for the Rauhnächte, the twelve nights between Christmas and Epiphany. Before the first night, you write down thirteen wishes for the new year. Each night, you burn one wish without reading it, and the last one that remains is yours to fulfill yourself.
The 13 wishes ritual for the twelve nights
The ritual begins on December 24, before the first Rauhnacht.
- Write wishes: You take some quiet time to think about the year ahead and write thirteen personal wishes on separate, small pieces of paper.
- Fold wishes: Fold each one so you cannot read what is written inside.
- Burn one wish nightly: Starting with the first Rauhnacht, the night of December 25 to 26, you will burn one of these wishes each night.
- Pick and burn: You pick one note at random from your container and burn it, ideally in a fireproof bowl.
- Release wish: The idea is to release this wish, handing it over or simply letting go of your control over the outcome.
- One wish left: After the twelfth and final night on January 5, one wish will be left over. This is the wish you open and read on January 6. It represents the theme you will actively work on yourself during the new year.
How to phrase your thirteen wishes
How you write your wishes can shape your focus for the year. Try to formulate them as positive statements in the present tense, as if they have already happened.
For example, instead of 'I want to be less stressed', you could write 'I feel calm and centered in my daily life'. It also helps to focus on things you can influence. A wish for someone else to change their behavior is often outside your control.
A wish about how you respond to them is something you can work with. Think about what you truly desire for your own growth, happiness, and well being.
- Write in the present tense: 'I am...' instead of 'I will be...'.
- Phrase it positively: Focus on what you want, not what you want to avoid.
- Keep it personal: Center the wish on your own actions and feelings.
- Be specific: 'I enjoy my weekly walk in the woods' is clearer than 'I want more nature'.
Burning the wishes safely
The nightly burning is a small ceremony of letting go.
- Find a quiet moment: Find a quiet moment each evening during the twelve nights.
- Draw a wish note: Without looking, draw one of your folded wish notes from its container.
- Think about release: Take a moment to think about the act of release before you set it alight.
- Be careful with fire: Please be careful with fire indoors.
- Use a fireproof container: Use a fireproof container like a ceramic bowl or a small cauldron with some sand at the bottom.
- Burn completely: Make sure the paper burns completely to ash and that the ashes are cold before you dispose of them.
If you prefer not to use an open flame, you can use the digital burning tool at the top of this page.
What the thirteenth wish means
On the morning of January 6, after the last Rauhnacht has passed, one wish remains. This is the only one you will open and read.
Its meaning is simple and direct: it is your wish to take into your own hands for the coming year. This final wish is not left to chance or fate. It becomes your companion and your focus. You might hang the note where you can see it every day, like on a mirror or a pinboard.
It can act as a guidepost, reminding you of what you wanted to cultivate for yourself in the new year. This custom connects to old Rauhnacht traditions but is a more recent development. Its origin is not clearly documented, but it has become a meaningful practice for many who want to set a personal intention between the years.
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Meaning | your wish to take into your own hands |
| Nature | not left to chance or fate |
| Role | becomes your companion and your focus |
| Use | hang the note where you can see it |
| Function | act as a guidepost |
How often do you burn a wish under a full moon?
If you burn the thirteen wishes year after year, 40 % of the years include a full-moon night, 40 of 100 seasons. The other years have none, because twelve nights are shorter than half a lunar cycle.
In the Rauhnächte 2026/27 neither a full moon nor a new moon falls into the twelve nights: the full moon comes just before, the new moon just after.
| Season | Moon in the nights |
|---|---|
| 2026/27 | none |
| 2027/28 | New moon, December 27, 2027, night 3 |
| 2028/29 | Full moon, December 31, 2028, night 7 |
| 2029/30 | New moon, January 4, 2030, night 11 |
| 2030/31 | none |
| 2031/32 | Full moon, December 28, 2031, night 4 |
| 2032/33 | New moon, January 1, 2033, night 8 |
| 2033/34 | Full moon, January 4, 2034, night 11 |
Calculated with the Swiss Ephemeris for the seasons 1950/51 to 2049/50. The day of the exact full or new moon in German time counts; the nights are the evenings from December 25 to January 5.
Thirteen wishes FAQ
- What is the 13 wishes ritual for the Rauhnächte?
- The 13 wishes ritual is a modern custom for the Rauhnächte, the twelve nights from Dec 25 to Jan 6. You write thirteen wishes, burn one randomly each night without reading it, and the one left over on Jan 6 is the wish you commit to fulfilling yourself.
- When do I start the Rauhnächte 13 wishes ritual?
- You should write your thirteen wishes on December 24, before the first Rauhnacht begins. The first wish is burned on the evening of December 25, which starts the first of the twelve nights.
- What if I miss a night of burning a wish?
- If you forget to burn a wish one evening, you can catch up. Some people burn two wishes the following night, while others just extend the ritual by one day. Choose the approach that feels right for you, as your intention is the most important part.
- How do I write a good wish for the ritual?
- A good wish is personal, positive, and phrased in the present tense. Instead of 'I wish I had more money', you could write 'I manage my finances with confidence and ease'. This focuses on your own actions and mindset, making the wish something you can actively work toward.
- Where does the thirteen wishes ritual come from?
- The exact origin of this ritual is unknown, and it appears to be a newer custom that has gained popularity in recent decades. It connects modern journaling and intention setting with the ancient traditions of the Rauhnächte, the special time between the years.
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