RUSSIA: St. Petersburg residents attempt to set city record for mass epiphany swim in Neva river

Record ID: 860477

  • Title: RUSSIA: St. Petersburg residents attempt to set city record for mass epiphany swim in Neva river
  • Date: 19th January 2013
  • Summary: ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA (JANUARY 19, 2013) (REUTERS) WIDE OF PEOPLE LINING UP TO JUMP IN NEVA RIVER
  • Embargoed: 3rd February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • City:
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA4EO9HPTCAA5DGBEPRATSZ02V9
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  • Story Text: Hundreds of St. Petersburg residents gathered in the city centre on Saturday (January 19) to attempt to set a mass record for ice swimming on the Russian Orthodox Epiphany.
    People crowded around a cross-shaped hole on the ice-covered Neva river, lining up for their chance to plunge into the icy water.
    The age-old ritual commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River, or the Epiphany, which the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates on 19 January, in the middle of the Russian winter. By bathing on this day, believers symbolically wash off their sins.
    Organizers said they were attempting to set a city record for a mass epiphany swim.

    "Today we have this event timed to coincide with the holiday of the Lord's baptism. The name -- what we are calling it -- is the biggest baptismal swim in St. Petersburg. So, around us this holiday is going on," event organizer Konstantin Blokhir said, adding that they would tally up the number of people who jumped into the water.

    "The record is a result of our event. There's a camera set up and it's filming all the participants who go and dip (into the river)," Blokhir said.
    Many of the event participants said they were enjoying their swim in the icy water, some even suggesting it was warm.

    "It's good, it's warm in there," one event participant said.

    "It's great. No, it's not my first (time doing an epiphany swim). I like the feeling," event participant Karina Medodina said.
    Religion aside, Russians have long believed in the beneficial effects of bathing in freezing water.
    Many do so throughout the winter, earning them the nickname of "morzhi," or walruses.
    Temperatures in St. Petersburg on Saturday hovered around minus 13 degrees Celsius during the event.
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