15 Christmas Fortune-Telling Traditions That Truly Work — Discover Your Destiny

While many view these rituals as mere entertainment, approaching them with sincerity often leads to their fulfillment. We've gathered the most captivating and reliable Christmas fortune-telling traditions that everyone should try.

Since ancient times, it has been believed that from January 6th through January 19th, the period between Christmas Eve and Epiphany, true magic unfolds.

Skeptics may dismiss these days as mere folk customs, but the church recognizes this festive cycle as deeply meaningful.

In today’s world, we seldom reflect on why countless generations treated these holidays with such reverence and care. Back then, people genuinely believed this was a time when life transformed, allowing actions previously forbidden. Costumed revelers roamed the streets (distinct from Halloween), youth sang carols, and these days were perfect for divination.

Young women gathered to divine their future husbands, children, prosperity, and harvests — desires that remain relevant today.

It is still essential to make wishes not on New Year's Eve but during this sacred period to ensure their realization.

However, these rituals require specific conditions: timing, special objects, adherence to instructions, and even appearance matter, no matter how unusual that may seem.

Often, it is recommended to perform fortune-telling after midnight, without jewelry, alone, with hair down, and a clear mind — but not all methods require this exact timing, so read the guidelines carefully.

You may need various items such as candles, rings, threads, coins, pencil and paper, dishes, water, and more.

We have compiled both ancient and modern fortune-telling methods that are genuinely effective. You can choose your favorite or try several. Christmas fortune-telling is a wonderful way to spend time with friends, family, or in quiet reflection.

For Love:

Thread Divination

This is perfect for fortune-telling with friends. To settle the eternal debate about who will marry first during the Christmas season, cut equal lengths of thread. Each person holds one thread in their left hand and lights it with their right. Whose thread burns out first will be the first to wed.

If the thread extinguishes immediately or burns only a third, proposals are unlikely this year.

Name Divination

Go outside late in the evening and ask the first man you meet his name — this will be the name of your future spouse.

King Card Fortune-Telling

Place four kings from a new or special deck of cards under your pillow and say the familiar phrase: “Beloved groom, appear to me in my dreams!”

Love Forest Fortune Cards

It was once believed that your future husband would appear in your dreams as a king wearing a crown and a red cloak.

13th Card Fortune-Telling

Shuffle your deck thoroughly. Draw cards one by one, counting aloud to 13. If the 13th card is a jack or king, you will be invited to marry this year.

Jack of diamonds or hearts signals a cheerful and positive man.

Clubs or spades indicate a serious gentleman with big life plans.

Dark-suited kings suggest an older, established fiancé.

Red kings mean you and your beloved may move abroad.

Mirror and Moon Fortune-Telling

This ritual came to Russia along with mirrors, once considered gateways to the otherworld. Not everyone dared to perform it.

On one of the Christmas nights, hold a mirror by a window so it reflects the moon. The more moons you see in the mirror, the larger your future family and number of children.

Water Fortune-Telling

Place a white towel on a table, set a small mirror on it, then put a transparent glass of water with a ring inside on top. It is said that if you look carefully into the reflection, you might glimpse your future spouse.

For Pregnancy:

Basins and Candles Fortune-Telling

Before Christmas, fill a basin with cold water and place a lit candle on a small plate in the center. Forget about it until morning. Then check the plate’s position.

If the plate has shifted left, expect a new family member.

If it remains centered or moves right, pregnancy is unlikely this year.

For Partner's Fidelity:

Cutlery Fortune-Telling

Place an even number of cutlery pieces on the festive table—more than the number of guests. After the meal, count how many knives and forks remain.

If the number is even, your partner is faithful.

If odd, your partner may be hiding something.

For Happiness and Future:

Note Fortune-Telling

Before bedtime, write “happiness” on one piece of paper and “misfortune” on another. Fold them equally, mix, and hide them behind icons or under your pillow. In the morning, draw one; what it says will predict your coming year.

Ice Fortune-Telling

On a frosty Christmas Eve night, place a container of water outside or on a balcony. In the morning, observe the ice surface.

Bumps on the ice predict luck and prosperity; if expecting, a boy.

Hollows indicate misfortune; if expecting, a girl.

Mirror, Candle, Pencil, and Holy Water Fortune-Telling

At midnight, hold a small mirror and repeat your wish or question three times while looking into it. Then light a candle and drip wax onto a part of the mirror. Write a word or draw a symbol related to your wish on the wax. Leave the mirror outside (on a balcony) until the end of the Christmas night. In the morning, sprinkle it with holy water and gently wipe.

If the wax smears or erases, your wish may not come true or will face obstacles.

If it remains intact, your goal will be achieved with ease.

Colored Candle Fortune-Telling

On the night of fortune-telling, light a candle of your choice before a mirror, ask your question while gazing through the flame, then walk around your house until the candle extinguishes.

If it goes out before completing a full circle, your wish won't come true.

The candle's color channels specific energies:

• Green — wealth and recognition.

• Red and pink — love, joy, and excitement.

• Blue and violet — wisdom and spiritual growth.

• Yellow — career advancement and power.

If your wish covers several areas, use candles of corresponding colors.

Wax on Water Fortune-Telling

Light a candle and wait for it to burn brightly. Drip wax onto water in a bowl and watch for shapes forming. These shapes predict your future:

• Heart — love awaits you;

• Triangle — unpleasant gossip and encounters;

• Wave — challenging trials;

• Face — new acquaintances and beneficial connections;

• Stars — joy;

• Square — boredom and routine;

• Circle — obligations.

First Sound Fortune-Telling

On the morning after Christmas, open your window to the courtyard. The first sounds you hear from outside can reveal your future:

• Child’s laughter — success and goal achievement;

• Child’s crying — health issues;

• Dog barking — new beneficial acquaintances;

• Cat meowing — financial problems;

• Female voice — gossip and troubles;

• Male voice(s) — family harmony.

Christmas Fortune-Telling for Children

Children can try book fortune-telling: pick a large book and note its pages and lines per page. Let the child ask a question, then choose a page and line to find the answer.

Another fun family activity is mandarin fortune-telling. Make a wish and peel a mandarin; if the number of segments is even, your wish will come true.

Photo credit: Shutterstock / FOTODOM

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