Winter swimming in Northern Europe

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• In Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Russia and Sweden the ice swimming culture has been linked with the sauna and Banya traditions. Unlike dousing, it is not seen as an ascetic or non secular ritual, but a way to cool off swiftly after staying in a sauna and as a stress comfort.

• Ice swimming (avantouinti) on its very own is specifically popular in Estonia and Finland. There is an Avantouinti Society, and swimming holes also are maintained by other groups including the Finnish skiing affiliation (Suomen Latu). The Finnish Sauna Society maintains an avanto for sauna goers.

• There are many places to swim without sauna in Finland for the duration of winter. Helsinki has numerous locations for avantouinti, with dressing-rooms and every now and then with saunas. There is likewise a number of ice swimming and wintry weather sauna places round Tampere.