The Twelve Sacred Nights: the wisdom of the smoke nights
As the year transitions into winter's stillness, many of us feel a pull to pause, reflect, and reconnect.
For many of us who’ve grown up in Western society, it can feel challenging to honor that rhythm and stay connected to ourselves. Especially during holidays that are filled with Christmas dinners and parties.
But it is nature’s wisdom to withdraw and turn inward to prepare for new growth in summer.
A beautiful ancient tradition known as the Twelve Sacred Nights, or Smoke Nights invite us to embrace the last twelve nights of the year as ‘a time outside of time’: to slow down, reflect, let go and look ahead to a new year with intention.
What are the twelve Sacred Nights or the Smoke Nights (Rookdagen)?
Maybe you know the Twelve Sacred Nights as the Twelve days of Christmas. The nights between the 25th of December and the 6th of January - the time that the three kings needed to travel from the East to Bethlehem to welcome the birth of a child.
However, this is the story as it was told after Christianization. Originally, in pagan times, the Twelve Sacred nights were about the rebirth of Light and began on the Winter Solstice (usually the 21st of December). From the Solstice onward, the days slowly begin to lengthen again.
The Twelve Sacred Nights begin on the Mother Night, December 20th, the eve of the Winter Solstice. This is the longest, darkest night of the year — a time when women acted as midwives for Mother Earth, symbolically birthing the return of the light.
It is in these darkest days of the year that the sun appears to be standing still in the sky - rising and setting in almost the same place. And intuitively it can feel as if time is slowing down.
In Germanic tribes, social life came to a halt during these twelve days and nights. Wheels were not allowed to spin as the big Cosmic Wheel in the sky was also standing still during this time. There was a truce between enemies and all house chores were postponed. Instead, herbs were burnt to cleanse the house and keep out evil spirits (hence the ‘Smoke Nights’).
These twelve nights, whether counted from the 20th, 21st or 25th of December, mark the rebirth of the sun and offer us a chance to bridge the old year and the new with mindfulness and intention.
A time outside of time: a sacred pause in the wheel of the year
To understand why these twelve nights are seen as a time outside of time, we turn to the cycles of the moon and the sun. A lunar year — the time it takes for the moon to complete its 12 cycles — is approximately 354 days, which is shorter than the 365 days of the solar year.
This leaves a gap of 11 to 12 days each year between the solar and lunar calendars. These days were seen as existing outside ordinary time— neither part of the old year nor the new. In ancient European traditions, this gap was considered a sacred pause, a bridge between the visible (the solar) and the intuitive, unseen (the lunar).
During this time, people believed the veil between worlds was thinner, making it a powerful moment for introspection, spiritual connection, and planting seeds for the year ahead.
Connecting to wisdom during the twelve Sacred Nights
The Twelve Sacred Nights were traditionally seen as symbolic of the twelve months of the coming year. Each night offers an opportunity to reflect on different aspects of life, letting the past dissolve and inviting clarity for the future. The dreams you have during these nights were even thought to be predictive. The dream of the first night holds wisdom for January, the second for February, and so on.
The pause that you naturally feel during this time of the year is a beautiful opportunity to:
Reflect on the past year
Cleanse your space and mind
Set meaningful intentions for the year to come.
Suggestions for rituals in Twelve Sacred Nights
Use this period as a time of reflection, cleansing and setting intention. Focus on letting go and closure during the first six nights and focus on the year to come and your intentions during the last 6 nights.
Here are some suggestions to end transition into the new year mindfully during the Twelve Sacred Nights:
Clear yourself and your space
Burn herbs or incense to clear yourself and your space each night to invite protection and clarity. Try to use herbs that are native to the country that you are from. For example, in Europe you might use native sage (instead of White Sage), rosemary, lavender, juniper or mugwort.
Reflection and journalling
Each evening or morning, reflect on the corresponding month of the next year (e.g., the 21st of December represents January). Record any dreams you have or signs you see during this time - anything that is meaninful to you - they’re believed to hold messages for the year ahead.
Journaling prompts:
✺ What lessons did I learn in this past month/year?
✺ What energy do I want to invite for this specific month in the new year?
Set intentions
Write down 12 intentions or wishes for the new year on separate slips of paper. Burn one each night, symbolizing a release of control and trust in the universe.
Light a candle
Dedicate a candle to each night or light the same candle every night as a bed time ritual. As you light it, meditate on gratitude for the year past and hope for the future.
Dream work
Keep a dream journal by your bed. Dreams during these nights are thought to carry insights for the year to come. Reflect on symbols and emotions that keep returning.
Connect to nature
Go for a mindful walk, observing winter’s stillness. Collect natural items like pinecones or stones to create an earth altar or sacred space to open up to wisdom from within.
Offerings
Prepare offerings of food or drink for nature spirits or ancestors. Leave them outside as a gesture of gratitude. Especially the Mother Night (night before the Sacred Nights and Winter Solstice) is a beautiful time to be thankful for our lineage, ancestors and Mother Earth.
Divination
Use tarot, runes, or other tools to gain insight into the year ahead. Draw one card or rune for each night/month and interpret its message.
Sacred bathing
Take a ritual bath with salt, herbs, or essential oils. Focus on releasing the past and cleansing your spirit.
Silence and meditation
Dedicate time to quiet reflection or guided meditation to connect with your inner wisdom and intuition.
Family or community connection
Make the social gatherings during this time of the mindful. Share stories, reflect on the year, or exchange small tokens of gratitude with loved ones.
The Twelve Sacred Nights offer a beautiful opportunity to pause, reconnect, and step into the new year with clarity, connected to your inner wisdom.
This year, remember to take some time to step out of the rush and into the quiet magic of the Twelve Nights. What wisdom might be waiting for you there?
Have a magical Twelve Nights!
