Polar Bear Clubs have become
a traditional way to
greet the new year. The original US club seems to be in
Atlantic City, NJ, where winter bathers have been taking the plunge on New Years Day for over 100 years.
Some say that the plunges are rooted in the Nordic tradition of saunas and cold water bathing, but today most clubs focus on
fundraising, taking a sponsored dip for charity. On Jan 1, 2003
Ivy Granstrom took the plunge in Vancouver BC at the age of 91 -- her 75th New Years dip. New clubs are popping up all the time - everywhere from
Hampton, NH to
Busan, Korea to
Kirov, Russia -- even
Gainesville, GA boasts some Polar Bears.
posted by anastasiav
on Jan 2, 2004 -
14 comments
Mmmmm.
Pancakes.
Called by many names - Blintz, Palascinta, Flensjes, Pannkuchen, Po-Ping - yes, you know
they're yummy, but what do you know about their
history or their
religious significance? For instance,
Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Day and for the past 53 years, women in
Olney, England and
Liberal, Kansas race down the streets of their towns flipping pancakes, continuing an English tradition that goes back more than 500 years. (
Melbourne, Australia has a Pancake Day race, too!
) The Russian Orthodox Church
celebrates Shrovetide with a type of pancake called Blini, and I think most of us know that
Latkes (potato pancakes) are
a traditional part of the Hanukah feast. (Although apparently there is
some debate on the virtues of
Latkes over Hamentashen.) On a more secular note, we've just missed the
2002 Fall Flapjack Festival, held every year in
Land O'Lakes, Florida.
Glenn, Michigan has an
annual Pancake Festival, too (since 1938). Hey! I'm getting hungry ... somebody
pass the Maple Syrup!
posted by anastasiav
on Nov 12, 2002 -
34 comments
