A letter to Britain

Moscow

Russia

20th of January

Dear friends,

I'm a student of the 6th class Polina and I want to tell you about ice swimming in the celebration of Epiphany.

On the 19th of January orthodox believers celebrate Epiphany. This tradition, swimming in an ice hole, goes back to the times of the ancient Scythians, who dipped their babies into ice water, accustoming them to the harsh nature. From the moment of the Epiphany of Russia (in 988) this tradition gradually was spread by our ancestors. On the eve of the holiday people make the ice hole in a form of a cross on the rivers. There is a mass of believers, who wants to dip into the equipped ice hole on the Epiphany. Typically, this kind of swimming is a triple immersion in the water with the head. When the believer is christened in the ice hole, he can say a prayer. In Russia since ancient times it`s believed that swimming in Epiphany promotes healing from various ailments.

Best wishes,

Polina