Twelve Days of Christmas 2025/26: Rituals, dates and suitable gemstones | Happy Minerals
3. Moonstone – for the dreams of the Rauhnächte
Dreams are considered guides for the coming year in the Rauhnächte. Moonstone is a traditional companion for this. It is a feldspar, and its bluish-white shimmer is called adularescence. It is created because extremely thin layers of two feldspar types lie alternately in the stone and scatter the light. In crystal lore, it is attributed a connection to intuition and the moon. Under the supermoon on Christmas Eve, it fits particularly well.
Mantra: I listen to what my nights tell me.
4. Labradorite – as protection for fine antennas
The Rauhnächte are considered a time in which the veil to the other world is thin. Those who are very sensitive often seek a protection stone in these days that does not cut off the intuition. Here I recommend Labradorite. Its color play of blue, green and gold is called labradorescence and is created by light interference on the finest lamellae in the feldspar. You read all about it in the Labradorite Guide.
Mantra: I remain open and still with myself.
5. Amethyst – for gratitude and closure
Amethyst owes its purple color to iron in the quartz lattice, which is activated by natural radiation. That is precisely why it fades if left in the bright sun for a long time. The Dream Amethyst from Zambia shows alternating bands of purple and white. In crystal lore, amethyst stands for peace and inner reflection. It accompanies the twelfth Rauhnacht, when you look back on the year and say thank you.
For me, an amethyst always goes with a diary. Write down briefly every morning what you dreamed and how the day feels. At the end of the Rauhnächte, you will have twelve little messages for twelve months.
Mantra: I thank the old year and open the door for the new one.
The Ritual of the 13 Wishes – Step by Step 🔥
The Ritual of the 13 Wishes is a particularly popular custom of the Rauhnächte. Its idea is beautiful and realistic at the same time: You entrust twelve wishes to the universe, and you take care of the thirteenth yourself. In this way, the ritual combines trust with your own strength.
Preparation (by December 24): 13 pieces of paper of equal size, a pen, a fireproof bowl, a candle, your diary, and your five crystals. Cleanse the stones beforehand, for example on a selenite plate or in the light of the full moon. You can find more methods in the article Cleanse and charge crystals correctly.
- Step 1 – Grounding (Smoky Quartz): Hold the smoky quartz in your hand and take three deep breaths in and out. Feel yourself arrive in the present moment.
- Step 2 – Formulating (Rock Crystal): Write down 13 wishes, each on its own piece of paper, in the present tense and phrased positively. Fold the pieces of paper the same way so that you cannot distinguish them. Place the rock crystal on top.
- Step 3 – Entrusting (Moonstone): In each of the twelve Rauhnächte, pull out one piece of paper without reading it and burn it in the fireproof bowl. Hold the moonstone in your other hand while doing so.
- Step 4 – Protecting (Labradorite): Place the labradorite on your nightstand at night and write down your dreams in the morning.
- Step 5 – Receiving (Amethyst): On January 6, open the last piece of paper. You will fulfill this wish for yourself in the new year. Place it with the amethyst in a place where you see it often.
Always burn the pieces of paper in a fireproof bowl, with an open window, and never leave them unattended. Those who do not like open flames can also place the pieces of paper in a bowl of water or bury them in the garden.
Incense in the Rauhnächte 🌿
Incense gave the Rauhnächte one of their names. In the past, the farmer would carry the incense pan through the house and barn, often accompanied by prayers and holy water. Today, for many, incense is a moment of order: the old year is consciously carried out.
When choosing, you may mix old and familiar. From the Alpine region come mugwort, juniper, spruce resin, and frankincense, the classic incense materials of the Rauhnächte. To this, I like to add two companions from afar: white sage and palo santo.
White sage, botanically Salvia apiana, originally comes from the southwestern United States. Our sage comes from cultivated growth. Its clear, strong scent suits the beginning of the Rauhnächte, when you carry the old year out of the rooms. Palo santo, the "holy wood" from Peru, belongs to the balmycarpus family. It smells sweet, warm, and a little like citrus. I like to light it on quiet evenings when I write in my diary. You light the piece of wood at one end, let it burn briefly, blow out the flame, and let it smolder.
For New Year's Eve, the eighth Rauhnacht, I have a special tip: the "Prosperity" incense bombs from Sagrada Madre. The small balls contain, among other things, yarrow, cinnamon, myrrh, rue, and rosemary, and each smolders for about eight minutes. One ball is enough for a room. This is how you welcome the new year with a scent that stands for abundance in tradition. Place them on a heat-resistant surface, such as the matching cement incense holder or a bowl of sand.
When burning incense, go through all the rooms clockwise and then open the windows so that fresh winter air can come in. Never leave smoldering incense unattended and keep children and pets away. You can briefly pass your crystals through the smoke. Keep selenite and other soft stones away from the hot incense holder, and do not place amethyst in the bright winter sun by the window to air out afterwards.
🌿 For incense for the Rauhnächte 🌿
Affirmations for the Rauhnächte 2026/27
Choose one affirmation for all twelve nights or a new one every evening. Speak it quietly while holding your stone in your hand. The one that makes you smile inwardly is yours.
🌑 I let go of what can stay in the old year.
💎 I know what I wish for, and I am allowed to say it.
🌙 My dreams show me the way.
🛡️ I am open and at the same time well protected.
💜 I thank for everything that was, and look forward to everything that is to come.
"I enter the new year with peace and trust my own path."
If you want to continue with crystals into the new year after the Rauhnächte, take a look at our article on the Success Stones 2027.
🌙 Discover crystals for your Rauhnächte 🌙
Frequently asked questions about the Rauhnächte 2026/27
When are the Rauhnächte 2026/27?
The twelve Rauhnächte 2026/27 begin on the night of December 24 to 25, 2026, and end with the night of January 4 to 5, 2027. The Epiphany night of January 5 to 6 forms the conclusion. Some regions begin already with the Thomas night on December 21.
Do I have to participate all twelve nights?
No. In many places, only four major Rauhnächte apply: Thomas night, Christmas night, New Year's Eve, and Epiphany night. If you miss a night, simply continue the next evening. The Rauhnächte are meant to give you peace, not pressure.
Do I need many different crystals for the Rauhnächte?
No. A single rock crystal is enough as a companion. Those who want more will be well served by five stones: smoky quartz, rock crystal, moonstone, labradorite, and amethyst.
What is special about the Rauhnächte in 2026?
On December 24, 2026, there is a full moon at 2:28 a.m., and it is a supermoon. The first Rauhnacht therefore begins in bright moonlight, a beautiful moment to charge crystals and set intentions.
🌿 Where our stones come from
Behind Happy Minerals are my mother Ute and I, a mother-daughter team from Bavaria with over 20 years of experience with crystals. We are members of Fair Trade Minerals e.V. and select every batch ourselves. Our tumbled stones and palm stones are real natural crystals, hand-picked and with a description that can accompany you through the Rauhnächte.
We pack carefully and securely for transport. For tumbled stones and palm stones, I choose intuitively for you. We wish you peaceful, bright Rauhnächte and a good start to the new year. 🌙
About the author
Dany is one half of the mother-daughter team behind Happy Minerals. For over 20 years, they have accompanied crystals through life. She lives near Lake Starnberg and likes to spend the time between the years with a candle, a diary, and a smoky quartz in her hand. 🤍
🌕 The Rauhnächte 2026/27 begin under a supermoon. Here you will find all the dates, the Ritual of the 13 Wishes, and five crystals that will accompany you through the twelve nights between the years.
🤎 Smoky quartz · 💎 Rock crystal · 🌙 Moonstone · 💜 Amethyst
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