Warm Winter Forces Epiphany Ceremony Cancellations Across Russia

Russians celebrating the Orthodox Christian Epiphany on January 19 have faced disruptions due to unusually warm winter temperatures. Traditionally, worshippers immerse themselves in icy waters—through holes cut in frozen lakes and rivers—to commemorate the baptism of Jesus Christ. However, some areas have been forced to cancel these events as safety concerns arise from thinner ice, prompting local emergency services to halt ceremonies in regions like Saratov and Karelia.

Despite the warmth, not all locations are canceling. In Anapa, the ritual will continue at its Black Sea location, even as the region deals with the aftermath of a significant oil spill in the nearby Kerch Strait. However, the changing climate is evident. Leonid Starkov, a meteorologist with Moscow's Gismeteo, notes that temperatures in major cities like St. Petersburg and Moscow have begun to thaw, while southern Russian areas are experiencing unseasonably warm readings of up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

To accommodate the conditions, some officials are establishing alternative bathing sites in smaller bodies of water, where the water remains frigid enough to send participants rushing for towels. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)