Icy Baptism
By Dawnsummer
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
United States
December 24, 2017 8:14pm CST
A friend on Facebook shared a video showing people in Russia's activity after they cut out a hole in a frozen lake or pond.
This is not for ice fishing but baptism. I was shocked to see a man run up to the hole, where two men grabbed him by the hands and dunked him into the icy water--feet first, until his head was submerged.
They pulled him out--he ran off and the next guy in line was submerged.
This seems so dangerous. I can't see a place for the frozen humans to get warm, and what if the men's hands slipped, the person would be swept away under the ice.
I'm not trying to be disrespectful to someone being baptized, because I think Baptism is wonderful, just to the dunking in the freezing water.
I had to watch this several times before I could actually believe that someone thought this was a great idea and others actually brought the concept to reality.
My friend stated, "they're used to it--they say it keeps the flu away."
Would you go into the frozen water?
15 people like this
16 responses
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
25 Dec 17
I actually would. I am one of those rare kinds that adores the cold and cold water. Thought it could be dangerous I agree. How unusual, thanks for sharing it.
4 people like this
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
26 Dec 17
I like the cold better than hot weather, but that would be too much for me. There are a lot of brave people who said they would try it.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (59761)
• Philippines
30 Dec 17
@misunderstood_zombie life is too short to not try out new things.
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
26 Dec 17
There's a lot of brave people who say they will do it, but not me.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43596)
• Denver, Colorado
25 Dec 17
Oh no no no no no. I wouldn't get anywhere near that hole.
2 people like this
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
26 Dec 17
No, a million times No. I wouldn't either.
1 person likes this
@saritflor (3914)
• Hungary
26 Dec 17
That's quite amazing but very dangerous thing to do.. one can even die from doing so. I wouldn't do that 
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
26 Dec 17
Me either, I think it's insane.
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
27 Dec 17
@saritflor I'm not sure if this is just a Russian activity or not.
1 person likes this
@saritflor (3914)
• Hungary
26 Dec 17
@misunderstood_zombie I wonder if that practice exist only there..
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
27 Dec 17
@shaggin it's a very scary thought.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
25 Dec 17
I'd be crazy enough to do it, though not as a religious ceremony
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
28 Dec 17
@misunderstood_zombie cold swimming can be fun - I could cope with that
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
26 Dec 17
A lot of people said they would do it. I could never in a million years go through with it.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
26 Dec 17
The answer would be no, give me the old baptism in church thank you lol with heat!!
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
26 Dec 17
My answer would be exactly the same.
1 person likes this
@Madshadi (8840)
• Brussels, Belgium
26 Dec 17
@misunderstood_zombie that is very likely it
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
26 Dec 17
I guess vodka could be blamed for these bad decisions.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
27 Dec 17
I don't think I could! Some people here swear that you can cure flu faster by taking an ice bath or taking a very cold shower but later I read the experts actually advised against doing that.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
27 Dec 17
@misunderstood_zombie Yes that's what they said in their explanation too.
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
27 Dec 17
I would think it might bring down someone's immune system, so they would get pneumonia.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (69176)
• Centralia, Washington
25 Dec 17
I visited my daughter in Arizona. The motel that I stayed at had an unheated pool. It must have been in the 90s and just hot out but I stuck my toe into that water and screamed. Just ghastly. I'd booked the motel cause of the pool. That water chilled me to the bone.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (69176)
• Centralia, Washington
27 Dec 17
@misunderstood_zombie I packed my swimsuit when I could have used the room for something else but just one time in that pool was too much for me.
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
26 Dec 17
Wow, I also think water is cold even on hot days, but it usually feels normal after awhile.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
27 Dec 17
@misunderstood_zombie It's not a joke. Cold does keep the flu away as the cold weather kills all bacteria.
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
26 Dec 17
I'm assuming that was a joke about the flu, and I wouldn't do it either.
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
26 Dec 17
I'm glad about this also.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153530)
• India
25 Dec 17
Never heard of adults getting baptised and that too in cold water. Is this some kind of ritual?
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
26 Dec 17
I guess this is the Russian way to Baptize some people.
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
26 Dec 17
They would have to knock me out to put me in there.
