10 New Year's Traditions And Celebrations Around The World

Many of us are familiar with the world-famous 'ball drop' in New York City's Times Square, but there are other cherished New Year's traditions both in the U.S. and around the world. From fireball-swinging in Scotland to grape-gobbling in Spain, we take a look at festive events that ring in the the new year.

From Huntington Beach, California, to Brooklyn, New York, one of the coolest (literally) ways to welcome the New Year is to take a wintry dip in icy waters. Hundreds of brave people gather annually in Coney Island in Brooklyn, for example, to partake in a frigid New Year's Day swim. The event is organized by the Coney Island Polar Bear Club, the oldest winter bathing organization in the United States.

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Another plunge for the brave takes place in Rome, Italy, from the Cavour Bridge. Each year, at around midday New Year's Day, Italian divers jump from the bridge into the cold water of the Tiber River to the enjoyment of the hundreds of spectators. It's a tradition that Italians have been carrying out for more than 75 years, according to the EuroNews.

View the slideshow above for more incredible New Year traditions around the globe. And tell us: what are you doing to ring in the new year?

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