Polar Bear Dip Barbie

Polar Bear Dip Barbie

New Year's traditions include cleaning the bad from last year and celebrating a fresh start.  It is customary to make loud noises to scare away the bad spirits or to hold ceremonies to smoke out the traces of evil.  It may be important to tell people you love them or forgive them or both.  Some cultures require that all debts be repaid.  The events unfold with dancing, music, countdowns and a momentous kiss at midnight.  I have heard that a lot of alcohol is consumed.

These customs make a certain amount of sense (except maybe the morning-after hangover) but the idea of  going for a polar bear dip just seems foolish.  A fundraiser for charities, the participants  gather at a frozen river, hack a hole in the ice and jump in.  I'm serious.  For safety, the organizers provide a diver and first aid staff.  I'd suggest a psychiatrist would be a relevant addition to the team.

Somehow, doing a polar bear dip appears on many bucket lists and there are some enthusiasts who participate yearly!  The first question  is "Why?"  The second is "What should one wear?"  The answer to the first question is a mystery.  The answer to the second one is 'as little as possible'.  When you leave the frigid depths you don't want a lot of fabric holding the cold water against your skin.  You do want a heavy robe to wear to the water's edge and back.

Barbie is proud to assist in fund-raising and always open to new experiences.  She'd tell you how it went but her teeth are chattering too loudly.