The night before New Year’s is a special moment when we say goodbye to the past and open the doors to the future. This day is filled with symbolism, and perhaps that’s why many choose to spend it in the sauna, cleansing not only the body but the soul as well. But there’s one more important aspect worth noting: the cold.
In the traditions of many cultures, especially in the Russian bathhouse, the transition from heat to cold is not just a physical process. It’s a ritual that helps not only to heal the body but also to prepare it for new beginnings. Cold on the night before New Year’s is a moment of shedding old burdens, both physical and emotional.
Here’s what it means to experience cold on this night:
- Cleansing from the past year. The process of contrast treatments in the sauna (steaming, followed by cold showers or plunges into icy water) reminds us of how important it is to leave behind everything that no longer serves us. Cold helps "wash away" the worries, failures, and burdens that have weighed on us throughout the year.
- Restoring inner balance. Heat and steam open the pores, while cold contracts them, restoring equilibrium. Similarly, in life: sometimes you need to "cool down" heated thoughts to gain clarity and peace. This is a moment of inner cleansing, to meet the New Year with a pure heart and a clear mind.
- A symbol of change. Cold is always the start of something new. It brings energy and strength to face challenges. On the night before New Year’s, it’s like a transition from one phase of life to another, when all that is old leaves, and you are ready to welcome new opportunities and challenges.
- A moment of mindfulness and presence. When the cold envelops you, you stop thinking about trivial things. You feel the present moment, you are here and now. This awareness allows us to let go of everything that holds us back, making space for what lies ahead.
The sauna on the night before New Year’s is more than just a tradition. It’s an opportunity to release, cleanse, and fill yourself with new energy, preparing for the changes ahead. So, don’t fear the cold! Embrace it as a new phase of your life and feel how not only your body but your soul is purified.
Happy New Year! May the year ahead be fresh, clear, and full of significant changes.
