“Not a Ukrainian tradition”: Lviv authorities ban Epiphany plunge

Epiphany dipping in Lviv in 2022. Photo: Tvoie Misto

On January 5, 2025, Lviv’s City Council said it was banning Epiphany dipping for Theophany on the New Calendar, arguing that bathing in open waters is not a Ukrainian tradition.

“Epiphany ice-hole bathing is not a Ukrainian tradition, and it is prohibited in the waters of the Lviv community,” said Yevhen Boiko, Managing Director of the Executive Committee. He emphasized that so-called “mystical cleansing” through an ice hole allegedly poses health risks for unprepared people.

Instead of traditional plunging, the city authorities organized “spiritual events” – the blessing of water at a lake, without bathing.

Specialists from the city administration linked Epiphany dipping to cold-hardening practices, stressing that immersion in cold water can be beneficial only with regular training. “A one-time plunge without preparation won’t improve your health – on the contrary, it may cause health problems,” officials said. The administration also warned that there are no officially designated and properly equipped places for plunging and urged residents to take responsibility for their own safety.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that on Christmas, Lviv authorities installed a didukh in the city center.

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