A cyclist rides past trees without foliage during a midwinter day in Melbourne June 25, 2008. Melbourne has hundreds of kilometres of cycleways, which people are taking more to, in a bid to save money on higher petrol costs. REUTERS/Mick Tsikas (AUSTRALIA)

Student diagrams showing elements of the Midwinter Ceremony are displayed in a classroom in the Gaweni:yo High School in the Six Nations Reserve January 31, 2008. Picture taken January 31, 2008. To match feature CANADA-CAYUGA/ REUTERS/Julie Gordon (CANADA)

Male participants in the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth wait for the start of Enoshima midwinter festival in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 20, 2008. Hundreds of participants carried the portable shrines in the sea at the festival to celebrate Japan's Coming of Age Day and pray for the safety in the sea. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

Participants in the traditional "fundoshi", or loincloth, carry a "mikoshi" (portable shrine) during the Enoshima midwinter festival in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 20, 2008. Hundreds of participants carried the portable shrines into the sea during the festival to celebrate Japan's Coming of Age Day and pray for the safety of those at sea. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

Participants in the traditional "fundoshi", or loincloth, carry a "mikoshi" (portable shrine) into the sea during the Enoshima midwinter festival in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 20, 2008. Hundreds of participants carried the portable shrines into the sea during the festival to celebrate Japan's Coming of Age Day and pray for safety at sea. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

A girl and participants in the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth stretch before carrying a "mikoshi" (portable shrine) into the sea during the Enoshima midwinter festival in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 20, 2008. Hundreds of participants carried the portable shrines into the sea during the festival to celebrate Japan's Coming of Age Day and pray for the safety at sea. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

Participants in the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth carry a "mikoshi" (portable shrine) in the sea at Enoshima midwinter festival in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 20, 2008. Hundreds of participants carried the portable shrines in the sea at the festival to celebrate Japan's Coming of Age Day and pray for the safety in the sea. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

Participants in the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth carry a "mikoshi" (portable shrine) in the sea at Enoshima midwinter festival in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 20, 2008. Hundreds of participants carried the portable shrines in the sea at the festival to celebrate Japan's Coming of Age Day and pray for the safety in the sea. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

Participants in the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth carry a "mikoshi" (portable shrine) in the sea at Enoshima midwinter festival in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 20, 2008. Hundreds of participants carried the portable shrines in the sea at the festival to celebrate Japan's Coming of Age Day and pray for the safety in the sea. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

Male participants in the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth wait for the start of Enoshima midwinter festival in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 20, 2008. Hundreds of participants carried the portable shrine in the sea at the festival to celebrate Japan's Coming of Age Day and pray for the safety in the sea. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

Participants in the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth carry a "mikoshi" (portable shrine) in the sea at Enoshima midwinter festival in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 20, 2008. Hundreds of participants carried the portable shrine in the sea at the festival to celebrate Japan's Coming of Age Day and pray for the safety in the sea. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

Participants in the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth carry a "mikoshi" (portable shrine) at Enoshima midwinter festival in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 20, 2008. Hundreds of participants carried the portable shrine in the sea at the festival to celebrate Japan's Coming of Age Day and pray for the safety in the sea. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

Participants in the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth carry a "mikoshi" (portable shrine) in the sea at Enoshima midwinter festival in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 20, 2008. Hundreds of participants carried the portable shrines in the sea at the festival to celebrate Japan's Coming of Age Day and pray for the safety in the sea. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

Participants in the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth carry a "mikoshi" (portable shrine) at Enoshima midwinter festival in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 20, 2008. Hundreds of participants carried the portable shrines in the sea at the festival to celebrate Japan's Coming of Age Day and pray for the safety in the sea. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

A woman uses her mobile phone to take pictures of a male participant in the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth before Enoshima midwinter festival in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 20, 2008. Hundreds of participants carried the portable shrines in the sea at the festival to celebrate Japan's Coming of Age Day and pray for the safety in the sea. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

Participants wearing the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth prepare during the festival of Enoshima midwinter mikoshi chastening meeting on the coast of the Sagami Bay in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 21, 2007. This festival is part of Japan's Coming of Age Day celebrations and is a midwinter ceremony in the sea with the "mikoshi" or portable shrines REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

Participants wearing the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth carry a "mikoshi" or portable shrine during the festival of Enoshima midwinter mikoshi chastening meeting on the coast of the Sagami Bay in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 21, 2007. This festival is part of Japan's Coming of Age Day celebrations and is a midwinter ceremony in the sea with the "mikoshi" or portable shrines.REUTERS/Issei Kato (JAPAN)

Participants wearing the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth carry a "mikoshi" or portable shrine during the festival of Enoshima midwinter mikoshi chastening meeting on the coast of the Sagami Bay in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 21, 2007. This festival is part of Japan's Coming of Age Day celebrations and is a midwinter ceremony in the sea with the "mikoshi" or portable shrines. REUTERS/Issei Kato (JAPAN)

Participants wearing the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth carry a "mikoshi" or portable shrine during the festival of Enoshima midwinter mikoshi chastening meeting on the coast of the Sagami Bay in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 21, 2007. This festival is part of Japan's Coming of Age Day celebrations and is a midwinter ceremony in the sea with the "mikoshi" or portable shrines. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

Participants wearing the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth carry a "mikoshi" or portable shrine during the festival of Enoshima midwinter mikoshi chastening meeting on the coast of the Sagami Bay in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 21, 2007. This festival is part of Japan's Coming of Age Day celebrations and is a midwinter ceremony in the sea with the "mikoshi" or portable shrines.REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

Participants wearing the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth prepare during the festival of Enoshima midwinter mikoshi chastening meeting on the coast of the Sagami Bay in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 21, 2007. This festival is part of Japan's Coming of Age Day celebrations and is a midwinter ceremony in the sea with the "mikoshi" or portable shrines. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

Participants wearing the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth carry a "mikoshi" or portable shrine during the festival of Enoshima midwinter mikoshi chastening meeting on the coast of the Sagami Bay in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 21, 2007. This festival is part of Japan's Coming of Age Day celebrations and is a midwinter ceremony in the sea with the "mikoshi" or portable shrines. REUTERS/Issei Kato (JAPAN)

Participants wearing the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth carry a "mikoshi" or portable shrine during the festival of Enoshima midwinter mikoshi chastening meeting on the coast of the Sagami Bay in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 21, 2007. This festival is part of Japan's Coming of Age Day celebrations and is a midwinter ceremony in the sea with the "mikoshi" or portable shrines. REUTERS/Issei Kato (JAPAN)

Participants wearing the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth carry a "mikoshi" or portable shrine during the festival of Enoshima midwinter mikoshi chastening meeting on the coast of the Sagami Bay in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 21, 2007. This festival is part of Japan's Coming of Age Day celebrations and is a midwinter ceremony in the sea with the "mikoshi" or portable shrines. REUTERS/Issei Kato (JAPAN)

Participants wearing the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth carry a "mikoshi" or portable shrine during the festival of Enoshima midwinter mikoshi chastening meeting on the coast of the Sagami Bay in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 21, 2007. This festival is part of Japan's Coming of Age Day celebrations and is a midwinter ceremony in the sea with the "mikoshi" or portable shrines. REUTERS/Issei Kato (JAPAN)

Participants wearing the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth carry a "mikoshi" or portable shrine during the festival of Enoshima midwinter mikoshi chastening meeting on the coast of the Sagami Bay in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 21, 2007. This festival is part of Japan's Coming of Age Day celebrations and is a midwinter ceremony in the sea with the "mikoshi" or portable shrines. REUTERS/Issei Kato (JAPAN)

Participants wearing the traditional "fundoshi" or loincloth carry a "mikoshi" or portable shrine during the festival of Enoshima midwinter mikoshi chastening meeting on the coast of the Sagami Bay in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo January 21, 2007. This festival is part of Japan's Coming of Age Day celebrations and is a midwinter ceremony in the sea with the "mikoshi" or portable shrines. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN)

British director Kenneth Branagh (L) and actress Joan Collins arrive at the post-premiere film party following the premiere of Branagh's latest film 'In the Bleak Midwinter', in London, November 15, 1995. The film was premiered as a part of the London Film Festival. REUTERS/Shawn Baldwin

Japanese worshippers pray in ice-cold water at a midwinter endurance festival at Teppozu Inari shrine in Tokyo January 9, 2005. The ice-water bath is a purification ceremony in which men wearing only loincloths pour water over themselves for good health in the new year.

Japanese worshippers pray in ice-cold water at a midwinter endurance festival at Teppozu Inari shrine in Tokyo January 9, 2005. The ice-water bath is a purification ceremony in which men wearing only loincloths pour water over themselves for good health in the new year. REUTERS/Issei Kato IK/fa

Tadashi Ishii prays as he bathes in ice-cold water with other fellow worshippers at Teppozu Inari shrine in Tokyo January 9, 2005. The ice-water bath is a purification ceremony in which men wearing only loincloths pour water over themselves for good health in the new year. REUTERS/Issei Kato IK/FA

Tadashi Ishii prays as he bathes in ice-cold water with other fellow worshippers at Teppozu Inari shrine in Tokyo January 9, 2005. The ice-water bath is a purification ceremony in which men wearing only loincloths pour water over themselves for good health in the new year. REUTERS/Issei Kato IK/FA

Japanese worshippers pray in ice-cold water at a midwinter endurance festival at Teppozu Inari shrine in Tokyo January 9, 2005. The ice-water bath is a purification ceremony in which men wearing only loincloths pour water over themselves for good health in the new year. REUTERS/Issei Kato IK/fa

Tadashi Ishii (C), prays as he bathes in ice-cold water with other fellow worshippers at Teppozu Inari shrine in Tokyo January 9, 2005. The ice-water bath is a purification ceremony in which men wearing only loincloths pour water over themselves for good health in the new year. REUTERS/Issei Kato PP05010058 ODLY IK/FA

JAPANSESE MAN, INCLUDING ELDERLY SHINTO PRIEST, BATHE IN ICE-COLD WATER
AT MIDWINTER ENDURANCE FESTIVAL IN TOKYO.

Masamitsu Nakagawa (L), 96-year-old shinto priest, grimaces as he
bathes in ice-cold water alongside fellow Japanese at Teppozu Inari
shrine in Tokyo January 12, 2003. The cold-endurance event is staged
during Japan's chilly winter season. The temperature in Tokyo on Sunday
ranged from 2 to 10 degrees centigrade (37-50 degrees Fahrenheit).
REUTERS/Kimimas Mayama

KM

JAPANESE MAN, INCLUDING ELDERLY SHINTO PRIEST, BATHE IN ICE-COLD WATER
AT MIDWINTER ENDURANCE FESTIVAL IN TOKYO.

Masamitsu Nakagawa (L), 96-year-old shinto priest, grimaces as he
bathes in ice-cold water alongside fellow Japanese at Teppozu Inari
shrine in Tokyo January 12, 2003. The cold-endurance event is staged
during Japan's chilly winter season. Temperature in Tokyo on Sunday was
around 2 to 10 degrees centigrade (37-50 degrees Fahrenheit).
REUTERS/Kimimas Mayama

KM

Japanese women douse themselves with ice-cold water during the
midwinter cold endurance festival at Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo
January 11, 2003. About 30 people participated in the annual New Year
festival as the temperature reached 9.2 degrees Celcius.
REUTERS/Kimimas Mayama

KM/FA

Japanese women douse themselves with ice-cold water during the
midwinter cold endurance festival at Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo
January 11, 2003. About 30 people participated in the annual New Year
festival as the temperature reached 9.2 degrees Celcius.
REUTERS/Kimimasa Mayama

KM/FA

A man splashes ice-cold water onto himself during a midwinter cold
endurance festival at Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo January 11, 2003.
About 30 people participated in the annual New Year's festival as
temperature reached 9.2 degrees celcius in the Japanese capital.
REUTERS/Kimimasa Mayama

KM/CP

Japanese men splash ice-cold water onto themselves during a midwinter
cold endurance festival at Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo January 11,
2003. About 30 people participated in the annual New Year's festival as
temperatures reached 9.2 degrees celcius in the Japanese capital.
REUTERS/Kimimasa Mayama

KM/CP

Young men douse themselves with ice-cold water during a midwinter endurance fetival at Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo January 14, 2001. Temperature dropped to minus 0.8 degrees centigrade in the Japanese capital on Sunday.

Young women douse themselves with ice-cold water during a midwinter endurance fetival at Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo January 14, 2001. Temperature dropped to minus 0.8 degrees centigrade in the Japanese capital on Sunday.

Young women douse themselves with ice-cold water as visitors look on during a midwinter endurance festival at Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo January 14, 2001. Temperature dropped to minus 0.8 degrees centigrade in the Japanese capital on Sunday.

KM/CC

Young men douse themselves with ice-cold water during a midwinter endurance fetival at Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo January 14, 2001. Temperature dropped to minus 0.8 degrees centigrade in the Japanese capital on Sunday.

KM/CC

Young women douse themselves with ice-cold water during a midwinter endurance fetival at Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo January 14, 2001. Temperature dropped to minus 0.8 degrees centigrade in the Japanese capital on Sunday.

KM/CC

A young man douses himself with ice-cold water during a midwinter endurance festival at Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo January 14, 2001. Temperature dropped to minus 0.8 degrees centigrade in the Japanese capital on Sunday.

KM/CC

A young woman douses herself with ice-cold water in a pool as a part of midwinter endurance festival at the Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo January 15. The freezing bath event has been held for 12 years and 17 people took part in festivities this year.
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Young men splash each other with ice-cold water in a pool as a part of midwinter endurance festival at the Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo January 15. The freezing bath event has been held for 12 years and 17 people took part in festivities this year.
??»

A young woman douses herself with ice-cold water in a pool as a part of midwinter endurance festival at the Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo January 15. The freezing bath event has been held for 12 years and 17 people took part in festivities this year.

ST/JIR

Young men splash each other with ice-cold water in a pool as a part of midwinter endurance festival at the Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo January 15. The freezing bath event has been held for 12 years and 17 people took part in festivities this year.

ST/JIR/CLH/

A surfer performs an unusual stretching exercise before entering the water for a late afternoon surf on Curl Curl Beach in Sydney's northern suburbs June 25. [With southern hemisphere winter temperatures still well below average, sunshine returned to the eastern states of Australia after recent snow, driving rain and gale-force winds bringing a swell for the country's hardy midwinter surfers.]
??»

A surfer performs an unusual stretching exercise before entering the water for a late afternoon surf on Curl Curl Beach in Sydney's northern suburbs June 25. With southern hemisphere winter temperatures still well below average, sunshine returned to the eastern states of Australia after recent snow, driving rain and gale-force winds bringing a swell for the country's hardy midwinter surfers.

MDB/JIR/CLH/

Two young men and a woman douse themselves with ice-cold water in a pool under heavy snowfall as a part of a midwinter endurance festival at the Kanda Miyojin Shrine in Tokyo January 15. The freezing bath event has been held for 11 years and 25 people took part in festivities this year. The outdoor event was held on a day when the Tokyo area had one of its heaviest snowfalls in years.

JAPAN

The morning midwinter sun casts long shadows from a Christian Palestinian scouts band as they parade in Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity December 24. Later in the day Palestinian Christians and visitors to the biblical city packed the at the start of celebrations for the holy night.

CHRISTMAS

American film star Mickey Rourke leaves a post-film-premiere party for Kenneth Branagh's latest film, 'In the Bleak Midwinter' with an unidentified companion November 15. The film was premiered as part of the London Film Festival

British director Kenneth Branagh (L) and actress Joan Collins arrive at the post-premiere film party following the premiere of Branagh's latest film, 'In the Bleak Midwinter', November 15. The film was premiered as part of the London Film Festival