Fireworks, dancing, drinking, writing (and forgetting) resolutions – there are many rituals around the globe related to the first day of a new year; in The Netherlands they like to jump into cold ocean water (nothing for me or my cat); enjoy the two photos below shot by the Dutch photographer Ruud Onos:
title=”New Year’s Dive 2013″ – photos by Ruud Onos, click on the pictures to enter his galleries on Flickr! Ruud Onos comments: “…A polar bear plunge is an event held during the winter where participants enter a body of water despite the low temperature…”; pictures were taken at Kijkduin, Bohemen, The Hague, The Netherlands
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compare the same ritual, New Year’s Day “Polar Bear swim”, at Coney Island, New York:
title=”here comes 2013″ – photo by Barry Yanowitz, click on the picture to enter his galleries on Flickr
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compare the 19th Annual Canada cold “Herring Cove Polar Bear Dip 2013” New Year’s Day Nova Scotia tradition:
title=”STRETCH” (two) (Explored) – photo by Iguanasan, Glenn Euloth, Halifax, Canada – click on the picture to enter his galleries on Flickr
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compare http://www.good.is/posts/craziest-thing-you-didn-t-do-new-year-s-day-polar-bear-plunge-in-pictures
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my daily photography media news via paper.li at
http://paper.li/frizztext/1341657171#
Flickr Comments 
Cold enough here today without having to jump in the water – does look like they are having fun though!
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We have the same thing here, called the Polar Bear Club.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
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Nuts!
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FUN! I think I could do it??
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Great photos. We go swimming on Christmas morning outdoors, but the pool is heated!!
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Hurray for the polar bear swimmers! The comparison between the Dutch and the New Yorkers is easy to see. As crazy as any polar bear needs to be, the New Yorker polar bears are even crazier!
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hi Bumba / Stephen,
actually reading your book [amazon.com: Stephen Baum, UP IN THE BRONX] I’m excited about your chapter X and XI = the description of a winter day of Maria and Jack – with snow fall in the morning, visiting the Zoo watching swimming seals in icy water in the afternoon – and the finish of the young lovers in the bedroom at night …
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We have the same thing here in Edinburgh….it’s called ‘the loony douk’….and jumping into the freezing Firth of Forth means they are all loony!!
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Thanks. That was a good day. I grew up on the other side of Bronx Park and used to walk to the Zoo all the time. It’s almost a true story.
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i prefer to drink the water only from a glas
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hi Wolfgang,
a flashback how we looked into the aquarium in Berlin Tiergarten:
today’s twitpic finding:
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Crazy Dutchies! 😉 I haven’t even been for a swim in the ocean yet this season and I live in Sydney, Australia.
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Well they look as though they’re having great fun! Lol thanks for this. Also, have a great 2013!
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Holy Crap! I can barely take a cold shower whoa … what an adventure! Great pics.
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Freeeeeeeeezing cold!!!!!!!!!!
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Awesome to look at for me, but not to swim lol:)
Great photos,
YenYen
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So they do this all over the world! We have them in Boston too!
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This looks like so much FUN! One day . . .!
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I don’t know how they do it… Brrrrrr
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Brrrr This is neither for me. I prefer to keep my coat on 😉
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Many danes are winter bathers – there are many association options – I know an elderly lady (78 years old) who have winter bath for over 50 years… 🙂
The man with the ring in the nose – probably don’t know, that he can buy waterproof mascara – his mascara “runs”… 🙂 😉
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HAPPY people! Wonderful! 🙂
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It’s amzaing the courage they have to do this. We have it here in Florida but the temperature was 65. hahaha
Happy New Year to you and your family, Frizz
Isadora
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compare:
New Year 2014 mermaid parade, Brighton Beach, New York
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