New Year's Eve plunge sets the mood for the upcoming year
In the heart of Reykjavík, Iceland, a unique tradition took place on New Year's Day, 2023. The annual New Year's Day Swim at Nauthólsvík Beach saw a large group of participants braving the cold, often with a festive spirit that included fancy attire or themed costumes.
Nauthólsvík Beach is a geothermal oasis in the city, where cold seawater is mixed with warm geothermal water to create a more comfortable swimming environment. The beach, adorned with white sand, hot tubs, and a protected area for swimmers, is usually inviting. However, during the New Year's Day swim, the water temperature can be exceptionally low, emphasising the endurance aspect of this tradition.
This year, the swim was particularly challenging due to record-breaking cold temperatures. Herdis Anna Þorvaldsdóttir, chairperson of SJÓR, the Reykjavík Sea Swimming Association, noted that the conditions were unusual. Despite the cold, Þorvaldsdóttir, who wore a sequined gown for the swim, believes that starting the year with the New Year's swim sets a positive tone for the year.
The New Year's Day swim is a blend of Icelanders' love for swimming and enduring the cold with a festive occasion to mark the new year. Many participants wore fancy attire, and some groups even coordinated thematic styles. The ice thickness over the water was unusual this year, making the swim particularly beautiful.
Þorvaldsdóttir also emphasised the well-being and joy that the New Year's swim produces. More than a hundred people participated in a New Year's Eve swim in Nauthólsvík the day before, and the tradition continues to be a cherished part of Icelandic culture. While specific temperature records for 2023 were not detailed, the combination of tradition, fancy dress, and record cold is well recognised in Icelandic culture around this event.
- The unique New Year's Day Swim tradition in Reykjavík, Iceland, which took place at Nauthólsvík Beach on New Year's Day, 2023, attracts participants who enjoy the blend of outdoor-living and nature, even though the water temperature can be quite low, setting a challenging tone for the year.
- In the heart of Reykjavík, Nauthólsvík Beach, with its geothermal oasis and themed costumes, stands as a testament to the Icelandic lifestyle, where home-and-garden and nature coalesce, offering a unique New Year's experience that not only cultivates joy but also resilience.
- The New Year's Eve swim and the New Year's Day swim in Nauthólsvík have become cherished parts of Icelandic culture, symbolising the celebration of nature, the joy of outdoor-living, and the sharing of news about record-breaking cold temperatures in the local weather reports.
