While others are ‘nestling warm in their beds’ or gathered around a family Christmas tree on Christmas morning, quite a few brave Brits are out early for a plunge into frigid water in one of the many towns that have developed a ‘polar bear’ tradition for Christmas.
Many of the plunges raise funds for charities, while others are just billed as good wet fun; some are mere plunges, while others include 100-yard swims and the like. At Penarth and Porthcawl, near Cardiff, a swim group called the Dawnstalkers does it every day, so Christmas Day is no surprise there, but it is the day that draws over a thousand participants, some in fancy dress, and some in Christmas costumes.
Among other notable dips are the Peter Pan Cup race in the Serpentine in London’s Hyde Park, a tradition since 1864; a mass race across Weymouth harbor in Dorset and a quick but freezing dip by the Bude Surf Life Saving Club, with Santa gear de rigeur.
Other winter mass swimming events take place the next day, Boxing Day, and some on New Year’s Day.
