Christmas in the Upper Palatinate: ancient customs and more!

Have you heard of the “Perchtenlauf” or the “Rauhnächte” in the Upper Palatinate?

Think you know all there is about Christmas traditions? In the Upper Palatinate, festive customs go far beyond decorated trees, candlelight, and delicious dinners. The “Rauhnächte” – the twelve nights between Christmas and Epiphany – mark the most mysterious days of the year. People once believed that during these nights, the boundary between this world and the next grew thin, allowing spirits and demons to roam freely amongst us. Communities developed special rituals to protect themselves from these dark influences – and many still practise them today.

One particularly fascinating tradition is the “Perchtenlauf”. The “Perchten” – frightening characters wearing distorted masks, fur, and straw robes – roam through the villages, driving away evil with loud bells and wild antics. Horns and antlers crown their heads, symbolising nature’s untamed power and the animals, whose presence intensifies during the “Rauhnächte”.

But it is not only the “Perchten” who characterise this mystical time; incense burning also has a long tradition in the Upper Palatinate. Fragrant herbs and resins are used to cleanse homes of negative energies, inviting happiness and prosperity for the year ahead. Epiphany is a particularly important day for this ritual: neighbours often share a piece of glowing incense charcoal, a small gesture that strengthens the sense of community while “cleansing” each home.

The Perchtenlauf and incense rituals are just two of many customs that transform the Upper Palatinate into a mysterious, almost magical world during the Twelve Days of Christmas. Visit us during this time and you won’t just witness diverse and ancient traditions; you’ll also experience authentic Bavarian culture up close.

Book your holiday today and start looking forward to an unforgettable stay at the Romantik Hotel Hirschen.