New Year’s Day swimmers around the world – in pictures

Lyme Regis, UK

Hundreds turned out in fancy dress for the traditional New Year’s Day ‘Lyme Lunge’ race into the sea

Photograph: Tom Corban/Shutterstock

Falmouth, UK

A swimmer takes part in the traditional New Year’s Day sea swim in the Channel at Gyllyngvase Beach

Photograph: Hugh Hastings/Getty Images

Scarborough, UK

People take part in the Scarborough Lions New Year’s Day Dip on Scarborough beach

Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

South Queensferry, Scotland

A ‘loony dook’ swimmer feels the chill of the sea

Photograph: Russell Cheyne/Reuters

Geneva, Switzerland

People toast with champagne while swimming in the cold water during the traditional New Year’s Day swimming in the Lake of Geneva at the Bains des Pâquis.

Photograph: Salvatore Di Nolfi/AP

Barcelona, Spain

The traditional first dip of the year at Sant Sebastia beach in Barceloneta neighbourhood

Photograph: Pau Barrena/AFP/Getty Images

Rzeszow, Poland

Members of the Sopelek swimming club, dressed up in colourful costumes, warm up before the New Year’s Day swim at Lake Żwirownia

Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Lisbon, Portugal

A woman sporting 2023 sunglasses celebrates New Year’s Day taking the traditional first dip of the year in the frigid waters of the Atlantic ocean, at Carcavelos beach in Oeiras

Photograph: Patrícia de Melo Moreira/AFP/Getty Images

Berlin, Germany

A member of the Berliner Seehunde (Berlin seals) at the Oranke lake

Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Saltburn-by-the-Sea, UK

Environmental protesters campaigning against pollution in the North Sea take to the water. The New Year dip event takes place each year in aid of the Saltburn Animal Rescue Association and other charitable organisations

Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Dinard, France

A bather poses as hundreds of people take part in a traditional ‘disguised’ sea bath to mark new year celebrations

Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

South Queensferry, Scotland

Swimmers play rugby

Photograph: Russell Cheyne/Reuters

Lyme Lunge, UK

Hundreds turned out in fancy dress for the traditional New Year’s Day ‘Lyme Lunge’ race into the sea

Photograph: Tom Corban/Shutterstock

South Queensferry, Scotland

Happy new year at the ‘loony dook’

Photograph: Russell Cheyne/Reuters

Boston, US

Revelers run into the water as they take part in the L Street Brownies New Year’s Day annual swim

Photograph: Joseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty Images

Scheveningen, Netherlands

People run into the sea at the beach of Scheveningen

Photograph: Hollandse Hoogte/Shutterstock