Inspiring Women Magazine May 2021

Winter Bathing
I grew up by the Gulf of Mexico, where the air was hot and the water was hotter. In
Denmark, I go to the beach every summer, walk to the water, stick one toe in, say “Too
cold,” pull my toe out again and have a nice walk.
But Danes swear by the benefits to health of winter bathing: wading or leaping into the
sea in the depths of winter. Individually and in groups, Danes (and others) “have been
throwing [them]selves into cold water on dark days since the end of the 19th century,
when the first winter bathing establishment was established in Copenhagen.” The trend
really took hold in the 1970s and today many people go winter bathing once, monthly,
weekly or even daily throughout the winter. If necessary, they swim in snow, sleet, or
even if they have to break a hole in ice.
They claim it’s wonderful for health:
“Research shows that winter swimming can strengthen the immune system and speed
up blood circulation … . An icy dip also releases adrenaline, noadrenaline, serotonin,
cortisol and dopamine, which means that a winter swim can have you feeling warm
and fuzzy.”
Most beaches have special facilities for swimming, summer and winter. The photo
shows a lovely one on the beach on Amager, an island that’s part of Copenhagen. It’s
built far enough from shore that swimmers can submerge themselves completely, as
well as change their clothes, bask in the sun (if any) and shelter from the wind (it’s
always windy.) As well as platforms from which people can jump into the water, it has
stairs, with handrails, so they can get back out.
But many winter bathers just strip off and wade or jump in. On New Year’s Day 2021, I
accompanied a friend and her daughter to a popular bathing spot in Nordhavn,
Copenhagen. It was so crowded that my friends decided to pick their own spot, left their
clothes and purses with me and sprang naked off the side of the quay – where I huddled
in my coat, gloves, hat and scarf. They climbed out almost as fast as they went in, but
both were refreshed and stimulated – as well as very keen to dry off and get back in
their clothes.
The quotes are from Winter Swimming in Denmark. In: Visit Denmark (https://
www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/things-do/winter/winter-swimming).
(Mary Stewart Burgher, member of AWC Denmark, FAWCO US Voting Committee)
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