nudist family – defining some terms
In summer one can meet nude people on a beach. They are nudists. Many don’t like nudist family, accusing them of immorality. Others, on the contrary, idealize them to excess, considering this lifestyle to be the epitome of true harmony with nature. The truth is somethwere in between, as usual.
To begin with, let us define some terms. Nude people on a beach are usually referred to as naturists (a derivative from ‘nature’) or nudists (a derivative from ‘nude’). People who like to sunbathe nude will passionately try to persuade you that there is a considerable difference between the two groups of nudity fans. They will say that nudists are rank citizens who like sunbathing nude, while naturists preach harmony with nature; they form various clubs and even in their day-to-day life try to wear as little clothes as they possibly can. This pronounced subdivision can seem artificial for a detached observer. Besides, in the majority of countries there is no division of nudist family for naturists and nudists.
Frivolously speaking, Adam and Eve were the first shameless nudists in history. According to Bible, it wasn’t until they ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that they realized the sinfulness of nudity and clothed themselves. Nudity golden age came into being with antiquity: the cult of physically and spiritually perfect man was incompatible with tabooed nudity. Back then only nude boys were admitted for participation in Olympic Games. Antique statues brought out the immaculateness of human body: almost every god, philosopher or and heroes are portrayed nude. The period of permissiveness for nudity lovers ended together with Antique epoch and the beginning of the medieval one: now nudity can be taken for a demonic possession and could be a sufficient reason for commitment to the flames. The Church has always looked upon nudity as something sinful (with the only exception made for Adamists who worship nude to be closer to God).
Renaissance with its homage to Antiquity brought spontaneous nudism back to the scene, which ceased to be seen as something downright sinful. But a real prosperity epoch for nudist family as social movement began only in at the junction of XIX and XX centuries. At this time in Germany there were published two works that proved to be fundamental for this movement – Nudity Cult by Heinrich Pudor and Nudity by Heinrich Ingevitter. These authors promoted healthy lifestyle, vegetarianism, physical activity, fitness, etc. In one of Hamburg suburbs there was opened the first naturist recreation center in the world. From then on the things would go just swimmingly – naturist clubs began to spread like wildfire. In post revolutionary Russia there was even started a society called Down with Timidity! Mobs of people would walk down the streets of Moscow and St. Petersburg naked waving their banners. Delegations of Russian nudists took the most active part in international conferences, and only Stalin with his iron will stopped the nude outrage.
Russian nudist family – the pioneers
The first Russian naturist was a famous poet Maximilian Voloshin who turned the coastline area at his Coctebel dacha into the first Russian nude beach. Intelligentsia from Moscow and St. Petersburg would come in crowds to Voloshin’s place. Voloshin’s beach still exists. Actually, the representatives of bohemia have always been fond of public nudity. Take for example Isadora Duncan, Bernard Shaw or Albert Camus – all of them promoted nudity cult.
Today nudist family is reliving its flourishing period. Serebriany Bor or Istra reservoir beach in Moscow are long established reserved area for nude beaching. In Kiev it is Obolon beach, in Odessa – Tikhy beach. Naturally, our nudists somewhat lack in the scope as compared to their foreign colleagues. Berlin, for example, has six nude beaches within the city line (including internationally recognized nude beach on the lake Großer Müggelsee. The same can be said about other major European cities (especially German ones). Germans, Belgians and Swedes are considered to be the most enthusiastic nudist family followers. Reps of these nations make the biggest part of nude beachers on the coastlines of Spain, Croatia and Greece.
There are several international organizations for naturist movement. International Naturism Foundation, FKK (German Frei Körper Kultur). There are international congresses of naturists held on biennale basis. But even without those congresses thousands of naturists get together at famous nudism resorts in Koversada, Monsena, Valalta in Croatia, Calypso Hotel on the southern coast of Crete, multiple nude beaches of Spain, France, and on warm lakes of Carinthia. There they can always find people who share their viewpoints and nudism lifestyle within nudist family movement. Daily routine in such places rather resemble family guest house: the morning starts with a workout, breakfast is available at a local restaurant or have it in your room, then it’s beaching, playing tennis or volleyball, sightseeing (outside naturist centers nudists wear clothes like everybody else) and dancing in the evening. Nights are calm and still – harmony with nature means early bed hours. Naturists are normally holidaying by families.
Russian naturists
The majority of beaches along the sea coasts (and all of them in America) are located within the area of private estates – it is more appropriate from the standpoint of public tranquility for both authorities and nudists. One has to either pay one’s admission fee or be a member of one of nudist family clubs to be admitted to such beach. Being a member of nudist family club means paying membership fees. Nowadays it is not a problem to find a nude beach resort through a travel agency. Thus, going with your family to a nudist resort somewhere in, say, Croatia, is not at all a problem if you are a citizen of Europe or America. Naturists in Russia prefer going to the Crimea or Russian resorts.
Nudist family is not a closed sect, so anyone can come to a nude beach. All nudists conventionally fall in two categories, the first consisting of the so called passive naturists that don’t care much about their environment. They do not have any particular philosophy. They just like feeling their whole body being exposed to the effects of sun. Others are ‘aggressive’ naturists. For them nudist family is their lifestyle. All of them are more or less well-versed in naturism ideology, they expose their genitals somewhat expressly and are intolerant towards clothed people, calling them swimsuit wearers. According to them, people who are not interested in naturism are nothing more than a mass with lots of hang-ups and deformed morality imposed by society, while those who are ready to undress in all the proper (and improper) places are free, liberated and spiritually healthy people (the list of epithets can be continued). To be frank, one should mention almost complete improbability of sexual harassment.
Naturists love highlighting their asexuality and sobriety (people with alcohol containing bottles will be looked at with disapproval and can be even asked to leave the area). But the fact worth mentioning is that on the nude beaches of Crimea and Russian part of Black Sea coast morals are less rigid: nudist family members are younger there, wine flows like water and people do not deny themselves any luxury of earthy nature. Nude beaches within the city line, like those of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kiev, Samara and many other cities display a different approach with the total absence of erotical aspect to them. Indeed, cellulite affected bodies, sagging tits, beer bellies (and that’s the exact way the majority of mature nudists look like) are hardly ever associated with erotic excitement. Naturally, one can occasionally spot groomed and well toned bodies there, but they are more of an exception than a rule.
nudist family – norms of nude beach behavior
Nudist family is not about swimming nude only and requires being knowledgeable about certain norms and ethics. Thus, naturists prefer occupying the outskirts of city beaches, especially wild stony beaches with fewer visitors. One should look one’s interlocutor in the eyes, even when simply stopping by for a greeting. It is advisable to exchange the forms of politeness like greetings and goodbyes with one’s nude beach neighbors. One is not permitted to take photographs or film nude beach action with the exception of special reports with the consent of their supposed participants. One’s eagerness to get rid of white patches on your body will be punished with your own organism’s vindictiveness : skin is more delicate under swimsuit pieces. The fact that your body is covered with suntan will only relax your vigilance. It is advisable to expose those areas to the sun for no longer than 15 minutes for the start, increasing this time gradually.
Nudist family means being environment friendly. One must not pollute the beach or being noisy, obtrusive or attracting undue attention to oneself.
To sum it up, one needs to consider the following nude beach rules: firstly, don’t drink alcohol and don’t harass people around you, or comment and mock their bodily imperfections. Secondly, you are supposed to be nude on a nude beach and sunbathe on a towel, not on the sand. It is strongly prohibited to litter the beach. In all the rest you are free to pursue your normal beaching activities – swimming, playing active games, meeting new people, enjoy the scenery. If you feel tuned in with nudist family principles – off with your clothes, and happy nude beaching to you! But if you still don’t have this in you, you are free to sunbathe topless – thus you will avoid embarrassing yourself and your neighbors, besides you will lower the risk to get your most delicate places burnt. A perfect way to have the wolves sated and the sheep intact, as it goes!
