Baptism-2025: What to avoid if you plan to plunge into the icy water on January 6th.

The Feast of the Epiphany is just around the corner - January 6, which means that a large number of people will head to the nearest ice hole to bathe there.

Subscribe to our Viber: news, humor, and entertainment!

According to church canons, this can help heal ailments and protect against them in the future. However, common sense suggests that it’s not that simple. Therefore, we decided to share the most common mistakes when bathing in an ice hole and how to avoid them.

Common Mistakes When Bathing in an Ice Hole and How to Avoid Them

Diving in headfirst.

If you’ve decided to bathe in an ice hole, then immerse yourself completely. Otherwise, you might trigger a sharp temperature drop between your head and body, which can lead to significant vascular issues.

Eating only diet food.

In such cold water, your body requires a lot of energy. Diet crackers won’t provide that energy. Foods like lard with black bread, nuts, dried apricots, and raisins can offer a good energy boost before bathing.

Before diving into the water, you should pat yourself on the body.

It is said that this helps warm up the body. However, it’s better to do regular exercises. Patting yourself in the cold can severely damage small blood vessels.

Drinking for courage and warmth

While it is unlikely that anyone would recommend this, some people manage to drink quite a bit before bathing in the ice hole. If you do this before bathing, you risk hypothermia. Alcohol dilates blood vessels, giving a false sense of warmth, but this sensation passes quickly, and your blood vessels won’t have time to adjust.

And most importantly, before bathing in an ice hole, you should consult a doctor who, knowing your health condition, can advise whether it is safe for you to do so. It should also be noted that it is strictly prohibited for children under 6 years old.