The Rauhnächte – those twelve nights between December 24th and January 6th – have been considered a special time of transition for centuries. A time in which the old dissolves and the new is still unwritten. An alpine custom carried by silence, light, and contemplation.
Here at DAS.GOLDBERG, these nights find a natural place. High above the valley, surrounded by winter, vastness, and peace.
The custom. Cleanse, organize, realign.
Traditionally, rooms were smoked out during the Rauhnächte to say goodbye to the old. With sage, juniper, and resins, a fragrance was created that clarified and opened the mind. At the same time, wishes were formulated. Twelve small messages for the months ahead. It was a ritual of gratitude and confidence. A conscious feeling for what may remain and what may come.
Consciously experience Rauhnächte
Smoking: a symbolic new beginning
Ignite a mixture of alpine herbs and let the smoke drift calmly through the room. Pause for a moment and let the atmosphere take effect.
Sort your thoughts: reflect on the old year
Briefly look back: What shaped the year? What can stay, what can be let go? A simple, clear form of reflection.
Thirteen wishes: an impulse for the new year
One writes down 13 wishes, folds the slips of paper, and burns one in each Rauhnacht without reading it beforehand. In the end, one wish remains. This last wish is the one that you consciously fulfill yourself in the new year.
Simple rituals. Noticeable effect.
How DAS.GOLDBERG accompanies this time
The Rauhnächte are a time of reflection. A phase in which things become quieter and one creates space for oneself. You will find this peace with us in a completely natural way: in the clear winter air that widens the view, in quiet moments on the balcony while the snow falls outside, or in the warm evenings by the fireplace that gently let the day fade away.
Our Nature’s Nest Spa also blends harmoniously into this special atmosphere. It is not part of the ritual itself, but a place that helps you to calm down. Warmth relaxes the body, water releases tension, and generous retreats create that inner clarity that makes the Rauhnächte so valuable.
A new beginning. Very quietly. Very clear.
The Rauhnächte remind us how valuable it is to consciously shape a transition. With us in the Gastein Valley, they become an invitation: to clarity, to peace, to a new year that begins with light.
A transition that works. A beginning that shines.
