Rauhnächte
Live Performance, 2024
Maison Douce premiered Rauhnächte on December 9th at the English Theatre of Hamburg, offering a 90-minute immersive journey into the mystical traditions of the Rauhnächte. Blending ancient rituals, live art, and haunting soundscapes, the performance channeled the spirit of the goddess Perchta and the eternal cycles of life, death, and rebirth. This performance invited audiences into a liminal space where myths come alive, bridging the ancient and modern through storytelling, music, and visual art.
AN ARTISTIC JOURNEY THROUGH TIME AND MAGIC
On December 9th, Maison Douce premiered Rauhnächte at the English Theatre of Hamburg, a 90-minute immersive performance weaving together ancient ritual, live art, haunting electronic soundscapes, and storytelling. This unique event conjured the spirit of the Rauhnächte, an enigmatic period of transition celebrated since pre-Christian times.
In collaboration with composer Ingo Hauss (U96), the evening unfolded as a multi-sensory experience: rituals ignited the space, live artworks transformed the ephemeral into the eternal, and trance readings channeled the ancient goddess Perchta. Through these performances, the audience was invited to step into a liminal world—a sacred space suspended between light and shadow, where myths breathe and time bends.
“Before the written word, before the rise of kings, there were the rhythms of the earth. Cycles of light and shadow, growth and decay, woven into the lives of our ancestors like the threads of an endless tapestry.
Their myths spoke of a Great Mother, the giver of life and death, who resided not in some distant heaven but in the land, the stars, the animals, and the people themselves. To her, nothing was separate, nothing was lesser.“
A NIGHT WHERE MYTHS CoME ALIVE
Maison Douce’s Rauhnächte is more than a performance; it is a portal. The whispers of Perchta, guardian of the Rauhnächte, echoes through every moment, calling attention to the eternal cycles of life, death, and rebirth. This transformative evening transports audiences into the heart of these mystical nights—between St. Thomas’ Night on December 21st and Epiphany on January 6th—when the veil between worlds grows thin, and the air hums with magic.
Through visual storytelling and haunting soundscapes, Rauhnächte celebrated not only the pagan roots and folklore of this sacred time but its continued resonance in our modern, urban lives. From fairytales to rituals, Maison Douce unraveled the threads of this ancient tradition, reweaving them into a contemporary tapestry of introspection and creativity.
“In the stillness of the Rauhnächte, the people turned to ritual. They swept their homes with brooms of birch and willow, casting out the old to make way for the new.
These rituals are not relics of the past. They are bridges—between the seen and the unseen, the old and the new, the human and the divine. They call us back to ourselves, to our place in the great cycle.”
join the rauhnächte
Maison Douce invites you to delve into the magic of Rauhnächte. Experience the timeless allure of ancient traditions brought to life through contemporary art, music, and performance. Witness the interplay of history and imagination, as we celebrate the sacred rituals that have inspired and bewitched generations.
The magic lingers still.
Special thanks to “Perschtenbund Soj” for welcoming us into your world and sharing the profound magic of your customs and traditions. Experiencing and filming the Perchtenlauf 2024 was an honor and an inspiration for our work. Your dedication to preserving these rituals brings the spirit of the Rauhnächte to life, and we are deeply thankful for the opportunity to learn and connect with such a rich cultural heritage. Thank you for allowing us to be part of this extraordinary journey.