Annual bathing in the hole at Epiphany has long been a popular tradition among all people. It is believed that swimming on this day brings tremendous he alth benefits, but there are a number of warnings that must be taken into account before deciding on such a bold act.
Features of bathing at Epiphany
On the eve of a church holiday, most people come to the conclusion that they need to plunge into ice water in order to improve their he alth. They naively believe that swimming in the hole on this day will be able to cure them of all ailments, as if by a wave of a magic wand. However, this is not quite true. In reality, things are different. To be he althy, you should systematically adhere to a he althy lifestyle, eat right, regularly see a doctor and listen to his recommendations.
In the event that a person maintains a normal level of physical activity for a long time and is mentally prepared for swimming in an ice hole, he should arm himself with the following to take a swim:items:
- a few towels to dry off after the swim and a small mat to stand on while drying off and changing;
- warm mittens and socks made from natural wool;
- thermos with tea.
Besides, don't forget about the most important prohibition. Alcohol should not be consumed on church holidays. Alcoholic drinks greatly dull the instinct of self-preservation, and this can have a deplorable effect on the entire concept of the holiday.
Recommendations and tips
Before you start directly swimming in the hole, you need to pour cool water from the shower or from a bucket for some time. Thus, the body will be prepared in advance for the procedure. An hour or two before the swim, there should be a mandatory meal, which should include a full breakfast or lunch, and not a snack in the form of fruits or vegetables.
Immediately before bathing in the hole on Epiphany, you need to warm up by doing some physical exercises. It is worth doing swims in specially designated places for this, where there would be people who, in case of any problems, could provide assistance and, if necessary, call an ambulance.
You need to enter the water gradually so as not to frostbite. Also, you should not stay in the hole for a long time. Half a minute is enough for an ordinary person to take a dip 3 times.
Wear for swimming should be long shirts, which on the outsidethey look like baptismal ones (the recommendation applies to both men and women). This is due to the fact that in bathing suits, exposed parts of the body can desecrate the church, and this is considered a violation of its traditions.
What is good and bad for bathing?
According to a survey conducted among competent people, the only usefulness of swimming in the hole is hardening the body. And the main danger is the likelihood of a heart attack due to vasospasm, convulsions and the rapid development of pneumonia.
In addition, there is a separate category of people who are strictly forbidden to swim in ice water due to existing ailments. These include:
- cardiovascular disease;
- bronchopulmonary;
- diseases related to gynecology;
- diabetes;
- hypertension;
- epilepsy and a tendency to convulsions;
- kidney inflammation;
- thyroid diseases;
- infectious diseases.
Medical experts categorically forbid swimming with children. This is due to the fact that babies have a weak thermoregulation system.
Bathing in the hole at Epiphany in the nude
On the eve of a religious holiday among people who regularly plunge into the hole or just want to perform this ritual, the question arises about the usefulness of bathing without clothes. According to the majority, with the help of naked bathing in the hole, you can cleanse and improve your he alth. This hypothesis arises inconnection with existing traditions and customs that are followed during the baptism of young children.
However, in fact, swimming in the hole on a church holiday and the rite of baptism of babies have no relationship with each other. Those who have a strong desire to swim naked in the hole are not forbidden to commit such an act, however, no he alth effects will follow after this (this should be done in non-populated places). It's much better to swim in public, wearing a shirt or bathing suit (not much encouraged by the church).
Women bathing in the hole
In addition to the general rules that should be followed by both the weaker and the stronger sex, when swimming on a church holiday, there are a number of particularly important restrictions for beautiful ladies.
For girls, swimming in the hole is contraindicated in gynecological diseases, during critical days, during pregnancy (winter swimming can cause miscarriage or fetal fading), as well as during lactation.
During the menstrual cycle, Epiphany swims are undesirable for women, not only in connection with religious beliefs. They contribute to the weakening of the female sphere. She becomes especially vulnerable to stress factors, in addition, various bacteria can be in open water.
Regularity of procedure
After reading the various warnings associated with the ritual of bathing, you should pay attention to the fact that regular bathing is of particular importance for womenfemale in adulthood. So at 45-50 years old, extreme procedures, carried out with notorious regularity, help to minimize or completely eliminate the negative manifestations of menopause.
And in order for the benefits of bathing to be palpable, hardening should be done starting from early autumn. This refers to dousing with cool water at home (with a gradual decrease in water temperature), regular visits to the sauna, as well as walking barefoot in the snow. By following these recommendations, the human body, not only male, but also female, will be fully prepared for such an extreme procedure as swimming in an ice hole.
