Starting the New Year with Ancient Alpine Traditions – 10th Night

This and the next two nights of the Rauhnächte are dedicated to three Goddesses, or three aspects of one Goddess, appearing as Wilbet, Ambet, and Borbet in old paintings. Many a waterway or town in the greater Alpine region are based on their name, most prominently the German City of Worms, known in Roman times as Borbetomagus.

In the Middle Ages, when Christianity settled into European households and life in general, these three Goddesses were replaced by the saints Katharina (or Catharina in her Latin form)(for Wilbet), Margarethe (for Ambet), and Barbara (for Borbet). While the name changed, the attributes (a wheel, a dragon on a chain, and a tower, respectively) remained even on later paintings and statues.

The names are also interesting insofar as on the day after the last Rauhnacht, kids dressed as the “Three Wise Men”, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, walk from house to house, sing something, collect donations for the Church, and then write 20-C+M+B-22 in chalk on the top of the door frame. “Coincidentally” the same initials as these three Christianized Goddesses, “coincidentally”, on the day also dedicated the death aspect of the Goddess in her manifestation as Mother Percht (Berchta).

The best way to celebrate this night is to light a candle dedicated to the Maiden aspect of the Goddess, to Wilbet with the eight-spoked wheel, and meditate over the following twelve months until the next Winter Solstice, blessing each month.

More magical Alpine traditions can be found in my book “Mountain Magic”, available at lulu.com (preferred) and distributers such as amazon.com