Why bow down to old man winter? As millions are bundling up and staying indoors while severe cold fronts move throughout North America, Eastern Orthodox Christians are going for a swim.
Orthodox believers across Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and elsewhere celebrate the epiphany, a Christian holiday celebrating Jesus's visit by the three wise men and his later baptism in the River Jordan, by plunging into bodies of water, often in temperatures far below freezing. The Epiphany is celebrated by many Orthodox believers on Jan. 6, but some Eastern Orthodox denominations follow the Julian calendar and hold their celebrations on Jan. 19.