Resolutions and Polar Plunging New Years Day Traditions

• In 89 locations on beaches and in lakes all over the country in Sweden, each year around 30,000 people participate in this "Nieuwjaarsduik" (English: New Year's dive), with a record 36,000 participants on January 1, 2012.
• Across Canada and the US, many revelers get together on New Years Day for polar plunges in support of charity.
• In Eastern Europe and Russia winter swimming is part of the celebration of the Epiphany.
• There are reportedly 141 winter swimming organizations across China with a membership of more than 200,000.
• The Boston L Street Brownies, one of the oldest, if not the oldest “polar bear” swimming club in America has been hosting a New Years Day polar plunge for over 100 years.

  " You feel strong, confident and even dare I say, invincible. Those are not insignificant feelings, and always easy to achieve. Something that makes us feel good about ourselves must be good, there are too many things in the world that make us feel otherwise.  In December the sunlight is lower, the light levels are poor on dull days, but some days dawn with a glittering intensity and the water is calm and cold and the air is clear and you are the only person alive in the world.  Why swim in cold water? Why not. " Lone Swimmer, "Why Would you Swim in Cold Water?"