Rauhnächte - Wild Hunt and silent time
Of witches, rogues + the Wild Hunt According to legend, many inexplicable + mysterious things happen during the Rauhnächte between December 25 + Epiphany on January 6. Mrs. Perchta - also known as Frau Holle, played by Natalia Avelon - goes around blessing those who bring her gifts. But, woe betide anyone who tries to watch her! The Wild Hunt is also up to mischief on these nights. Therefore, one must not hang up laundry, otherwise the spirits get caught in it. If you cut your hair and fingernails, you will be punished with a headache, and if you get up whistling, you will fear bad luck. In the Rauhnächten witches do their mischief, animals can speak and single girls see their groom in dreams. Everything is out of order, work should rest. Rest "between the years" Especially in this year, in which many people withdraw into the private sphere because of the Corona crisis, the Rauhnächte seem to experience a renaissance. In addition to incense courses, literature about this mystical time is booming. The conversations with actor Harald Krassnitzer run like a thread through the three parts of the film. Krassnitzer, also known as crime scene inspector Moritz Eisner, describes the fascination of the Rauhnächte in his book "Wonderful things for a special time". The film also goes in search of clues with the author and customs researcher Wolfgang Wiedenhöfer in Waiblingen + the fantasy author Birgit Jaeckel in Krün. What is it about these twelve days after Christmas, which today more than ever mean for many an "in-between time" without hustle + bustle and obligations?
Broadcasting on 02nd of January 2022 at 07.00am + 03rd of January 2022 at 12.00am on SWR/ARD
Music: POPVIRUS Library