Replying to Avatar Sedj

I'm not missing that point at all. I started by stating it, amd referenced Inuit earlier.

Did native americans bathe year round as a form of hygiene? I don't know if this is true or not. I'm not willing to assume it. That is still different from experiencing less than 57 degree water for wellness or mental clarity. Exposure to cold temps for fishing or other food gathering also isn't the same as doing it optionally for wellness.

Exposure to heat through sweat lodges and various ceremonies was done for wellness. That is clear. Not all cultures, perhaps, but enough. Not seeing evidence of cold ceremonies.
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ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴏꜰ ᴍʟᴇᴋᴜ 1y ago

the bulgarians and several other slavic cultures (could even be almost universal Orthodox) have an event every year where a bunch of young men dive into a river in the middle of winter to retrieve a crucifix i believe

to some extent, i think that baptism comes close to having some strong reference to cold rituals, and the implication of "waking you up" is definitely strong in the meme of baptism altogether IMO

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ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴏꜰ ᴍʟᴇᴋᴜ 1y ago

also, yes, you ask the slavs about it and it isn't just this one religious related ritual, cold shock therapy is done for wellness in many of the cultures, that is just the most visible one you can easily find reference to

the ceremony usually makes an appearance on the TV news every year in serbia and bulgaria at least