Neptune, a pirate and Santa Claus, among others, entered the water on the beaches in Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot. This is how the Tricity walruses welcomed the new year. Taking a cold bath on January 1 has become a tradition.
Bathing in Gdynia and Sopot started at 12 noon, and in Gdańsk at 1 p.m. It was the 50th time that the Tricity walruses welcomed the New Year in this way.
Only in Gdańsk Jelitkowo there were over 100 cold bath enthusiasts. The organizer was the Gdańsk Walrus Club. Among the participants of the party there were also people who came from outside the Tricity.
According to custom, some of the “walruses” entered the Baltic Sea wearing carnival costumes – traditionally, it was, among others, Neptune, pirate, Saint Santa Claus. The participants were decorated with colorful headgear, bow ties and garlands.
A mandatory warm-up preceded entering the water. After swimming, the “walruses” gathered around a bonfire on the beach.
Bathing in cold water relaxes and immunizes against diseases – assured the event participants.
The new year was welcomed similarly by the Gdynia Walrus Association. Jan Bobczyk, which organized a bath at noon at Polanka Redłowska. Traditionally, a symbolic toast accompanied by lively music took place there.
The Gdańsk Walrus Club, existing since 1975, is the oldest in Poland and brings together several hundred people. The “walrus” bathing season begins in October and ends at the turn of April and May.
Main photo source: PAP/Adam Warżawa