New Year’s Day dip: Chilly charity tradition
Wednesday, January 2, 2019 @ 11:53 AM
ONE of coastal Spain’s most gruelling traditions, this morning brought crowds of hardy – or foolhardy – swimmers onto the beach for their annual icy New Year’s Day dip.
The January 1 sea swim takes place all along the shores of the Comunidad Valenciana, Catalunya, Andalucía, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands, and typically raises cash for charity through entry fees and donations on the day.
Some are organised by British expats, who may seek sponsors among friends and family to boost their charity pot, although ‘sponsorship forms’ are not a well-known tradition among Spaniards.
For the British community on the Costa Blanca, one of the most famous New Year’s Day dips has historically been off Jávea’s Arenal beach, organised by the Lancashire Bruja bar.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com