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Worshippers pray for good health in ice water purification ceremony

Tokyo worshippers participate in the annual ice water purification ritual at the Teppozu Inari Shrine, an event to pray for good health in the new year. The participants warm up by stretching their bodies and jump into a pool of cold water with huge ice blocks in it.

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Swimming group holds annual New Year's day plunge in Boston

The annual New Year's day plunge is led by one of America's oldest cold-water swimming groups, the L Street Brownies.

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Swimmers near Lisbon brave traditional new year's sea dip

Every January 1, dozens of Lisbon residents meet for the first swim of the year on Carcavelos beach -- a way to chase away "bad energy" and "starting the year with a new lease of life", according to the bathers

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Berliner and Dutch honour the New Year's dip tradition

Members of a German winter-swimming club took their traditional first swim of the New Year with a dip in Berlin's Lake Oranke on Saturday. Swimmers dive into the cold waters of the North Sea to celebrate New Year's Eve in Scheveningen.

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France

French burn fewer cars on New Year's Eve due to pandemic

Fewer arson attacks occurred because of massive police presence on cities’ streets this New Year’s Eve.

Germany

NYE's fireworks kill men in Germany, Austria

The sale of fireworks for personal use was banned in Germany this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Food and Drink

Five things to do with leftover champagne (other than drink it)

While the idea of leftover fizz might sounds ridiculous, it does happen - and for when you're too hungover to drink it, here are some suggestions for its more creative uses.

Belgium

Dutch tourists flock to Belgium to escape New Year lockdown at home

Thousands of Dutch visitors have been out and about in Antwerp shopping as well as eating and drinking in bars and cafés that are shut down in the Netherlands.

Australia

'Welcome 2022!': Sydney sees in New Year with dazzling fireworks show

The Australian city shrugged off a COVID surge with a spectacular Harbour Bridge display, while in New Zealand Auckland's celebration was a far more low-key affair.

World News

Europe cracks down on New Year celebrations amid COVID-19 records

Across Europe, New Year celebrations are scaled down and restrictions imposed as countries experience a massive surge in coronavirus infections.

Culture news

Greek government bans music on New Year's Eve

The spread of the omicron measurement has prompted the measure, the latest in a raft of restrictions introduced across Europe this winter.

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Santa Race in North Macedonia and in Russia

Hundreds dress up as Santa for annual race in Skopje and in St Petersburg

United Kingdom

London's 'Big Ben' fully visible again to ring in the New Year

"It's an international symbol, an international symbol of democracy, and [...] it was the only bell allowed to ring during the Second World War. So that was the sound of liberty and hope."

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One of Europe's biggest and oldest lottery draws kicks off in Madrid

One of Europe's biggest and oldest lottery draws kicks off in Madrid

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Santa Claus roams Christian town of Iraq, "putting smiles on children's faces"

Locals dressed up as Santa Claus roam the streets of al-Hamdaniya, a Christian town overrun by the Islamic State group in 2014, in the Nineveh governorate of Iraq, distributing sweets to children to "put a smile on their faces".

World News

Better to cancel Christmas events than grieve later, warns WHO chief

"An event cancelled is better than a life cancelled," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday, highlighting data suggesting Omicron spreads "significantly faster" than the Delta variant.

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Ice sculptors transform a Russian city into a winter wonderland

Working in subzero temperatures, ice sculptors have turned the Siberian city of Tomsk into a winter wonderland. It's all part of the Crystal Tomsk ice sculpture festival where 16 sculptor teams compete for a top prize.

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Kyoto entertainers perform New Year greeting ritual

In Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto, professional female entertainers known as "geiko," and their apprentices known as "maiko," have started offering early New Year's greetings.

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Hundreds dressed as Santa run down Athen streets

Hundreds of people dressed up in red and white Santa Claus costumes to take part Sunday in Athens' seventh charity Santa Run.

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Budapest embraces the Christmas spirit

Budapest's Christmas market is welcoming visitors for the first time since the start of the pandemic.