Winter swimming

There is in Orthodoxy such a traditional holiday - "Baptism." Religious holiday. During the celebration it is accepted to bathe in rivers and lakes. Despite the ambient temperature. Last year I also participated.

Friends called in the evening and invited to participate in the Epiphany bathing. After a long working day, I was tired and, for this reason, refused. Moreover, I do not refer myself to "walruses". Could, of course, in a joke and for the company to plunge, but in the morning my throat was sore and I did not want to finally get sick. In general, as it usually happens, the main thing for yourself is to find an excuse for refusal.

But in the morning I went to see the bathers.

I'm a little late. Very little. But it was enough that I did not see how to sanctify the hole in the ice. Apparently, everything passed quickly enough.

As the dear little girl from the Russian Union of Rescuers said, for the night from 20:00 to 08:00 1250 people bathed. And from 08:00 to 10:30 only 75. Thus, the majority of people come at night. Apparently this is more interesting than the day.

In general, the situation around the ice hole was working. In the parking lot - patrol, around - the police, the metal detector frame, many rescuers. The air temperature is about -25. Water freezes instantly. Workers clean the steps and surface of the water from the ice, sweep the wooden decks. On the embankment there are biotoilets, ambulance and bus.

In general, I arrived at an unfortunate time. At this time, mostly men are swimming. There was a young girl, but she looked so young that I was afraid to take pictures. She could be still a child. It was necessary to go at night. I know for sure that there were beautiful girls who did not have enough photographers. And in general, a cursory search in Google shows that the vast majority of photos with beautiful and undressed girls are made at night. You see? I already regret that I did not go when I was called. Well, maybe next time ...

And yet, I remain at my opinion. Bathing for baptism is a tradition that has become fashionable. Many people do this because this tradition is advertised on TV. Part of it does because friends do it. It's fun and it can boast in the company. Few people do it because they are true believers. Baptized well if half. The rest jump convulsively in the water, they try to breathe at least once, grab hold of the railing and jump out faster. But at the exit from the water, in the frost and light breeze, people become much colder. The skin immediately turns red, and the teeth begin to knock on each other. Many of them can not get dressed themselves and their relatives help them hastily.

Knowingly doctors warn that bathing in an ice-hole is a great stress for the body and you need to prepare for it in advance. But who believes them to all-knowing doctors ...