Holy Nights ritual

The 13 Wishes Ritual: Step by Step, With Examples

In the 13 wishes ritual you write 13 wishes for the new year on slips of paper and burn one unread on each of the 12 Holy Nights; the 13th wish is the one you take care of yourself.

The ritual comes from German-speaking countries, where it has become one of the most popular ways to spend the Holy Nights, the twelve nights between Christmas and Epiphany. It is simple, it takes a few minutes a night, and it gives the quiet days after Christmas a small structure. In 2026 you write your wishes by Christmas Eve, December 24, and burn the first one on December 25, the first Holy Night.

What is the 13 wishes ritual?

You write thirteen wishes for the coming year, each on its own slip of paper, fold them so you cannot read them, and mix them. On each of the twelve Holy Nights you pick one slip at random and burn it without reading it. The idea is that you hand that wish over: to the universe, to fate, to God, or simply to time, depending on what you believe.

After the twelfth night one slip is left. You open it and read it. That wish is your own job for the year: nobody else will take care of it, so it is up to you to make it happen.

The ritual is a modern custom. It is not documented in old folklore, but it fits the old idea of the Holy Nights as a time between the years, and it has spread quickly in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and lately in English-speaking countries too.

When to start in 2026

Write your thirteen wishes before the first Holy Night. Many people do it on the winter solstice, December 21, 2026, or on December 23, the day of the Full Moon. The latest moment is Christmas Eve, before midnight.

Burn one slip on each of the twelve Holy Nights, from December 25, 2026, to January 5, 2027, usually in the evening. Many people burn the first one right as the Holy Nights begin, in the night of Christmas Eve after midnight. The last slip is burned on January 5, and on Epiphany, January 6, you open the 13th wish. Our 12 Holy Nights calendar lists all twelve dates.

How to do the 13 wishes ritual, step by step

You need 13 small slips of paper of the same size, a pen, a fireproof bowl and a candle or matches.

  • By Christmas Eve, December 24, sit down somewhere quiet and write 13 wishes for the new year, one per slip.
  • Fold every slip the same way so they all look alike, and put them in an envelope, a box or a small bag.
  • On each of the 12 nights, pick one slip without looking and burn it unread in the fireproof bowl. Some people say a short thank you while it burns.
  • Keep the ashes if you like. Some people scatter them outside after the last night or bury them in a plant pot.
  • After the twelfth night, open the last slip. That is your 13th wish.
  • Put the 13th wish somewhere you will see it during the year, and write down one first step toward it.

Safety first: burn the slips over a sink or a fireproof bowl, keep water nearby, open a window and never leave a flame alone. If you cannot burn paper where you live, tear the slip into small pieces instead, or put it unread into a jar that you close at the end.

How to write your 13 wishes

Most people find it easier than they expect, once they start. A few tips that help:

  • Write each wish as if it has already come true: "I feel at home in my new apartment" instead of "I hope I find an apartment".
  • Keep it short, one sentence per slip.
  • Mix big and small wishes. You never know which one stays for you.
  • Write only wishes for yourself, not about changing another person.
  • Every wish should be something you would be happy to take on yourself, because any of them could be the 13th.

Examples of 13 wishes

If you need a start, here are examples. Change them until they sound like you:

  • I sleep well and wake up rested.
  • I spend more evenings with the people I love.
  • I find work that feels meaningful to me.
  • I travel somewhere I have never been.
  • I feel calm about money.
  • I learn something new just for fun.
  • I move my body in a way I enjoy.
  • I make peace with an old conflict.
  • Our home feels warm and tidy.
  • I say no when I mean no.
  • I finish the project I keep putting off.
  • I meet new friends who make me laugh.
  • I trust myself more.

What if you miss a night?

Nothing happens. Burn two slips the next night, or keep counting and burn the last one a day later. The ritual is meant to help you, not to stress you out.

If you started late, you can still begin: write your wishes, burn as many slips as nights have passed, and continue from there.

Make the ritual your own

Many people pair the slips with a short note each morning about the month the night stands for: night 1 for January, night 2 for February and so on. Our guide to the 12 Holy Nights explains this old idea, and our free 22-page Holy Nights journal has the 13 wish slips, the calendar and a page for every night (sign up below).

If you like numbers, you can also look up your personal year in 2027 before you write. It gives the year a theme, which can make choosing your wishes easier.

See every page of the journal

Questions

Frequently asked questions

When do you start the 13 wishes ritual?

Write your 13 wishes by Christmas Eve. Burn the first one on December 25, 2026, and one more on each Holy Night until January 5, 2027.

Why 13 wishes and not 12?

There are twelve Holy Nights, so twelve wishes are burned and handed over. The thirteenth is left on purpose: it is the wish you take into your own hands for the year.

What do you do with the 13th wish?

After the twelfth night you open the last slip and read it. That wish is yours to take care of during the year, so write down a first step.

Can you read the wishes before burning them?

No. The slips are burned unread, so that you never know which wish is left until the end.

What if I cannot burn paper?

Tear each slip into small pieces, or drop it unread into a jar that you close after the last night. The gesture of letting go is what matters.

Is the 13 wishes ritual old?

No. It is a modern custom from German-speaking countries that fits the much older tradition of the Holy Nights, the twelve nights between the years.

Can I start the 13 wishes ritual on the winter solstice?

Many people write their wishes on the solstice, December 21. The twelve burning nights then still run from December 25 to January 5, unless your family counts from the solstice.

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