Epiphany Day Celebrations

Bulgarian men dance in the icy waters of the Tundzha river during a celebration for Epiphany Day in the town of Kalofer, some 150 km (93 miles) east of Sofia January 6, 2012. It is believed that the ritual will bring health throughout the new year. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov

Bulgarian men dance in the icy waters of the Tundzha river during a celebration for Epiphany Day in the town of Kalofer, some 150 km (93 miles) east of Sofia January 6, 2012. It is believed that the ritual will bring health throughout the new year. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov

Villagers dive to retrieve a crucifix thrown into a river by an Orthodox priest during Epiphany Day celebrations in Serdanu village, 50 km (31 miles) northwest of Bucharest January 6, 2012. REUTERS/Radu Sigheti

Villagers travel on a horse cart to attend the Orthodox Epiphany Day celebrations in Serdanu village, 50 km (31 miles) northwest of Bucharest January 6, 2012. REUTERS/Radu Sigheti

A man kisses a cross after winning a competition to retrieve it from the water during Orthodox Epiphany day celebrations in the port of Porto Rafti, some 40km (25 miles) northeast of Athens January 6, 2012. Orthodox priests throughout the country bless the water by throwing a cross into water bodies as worshippers swim and try to retrieve it. REUTERS/John Kolesidis

A worker prepares a cross shaped hole for bathing during forthcoming Russian Orthodox Epiphany celebrations in an air temperature of about minus 32 degrees Celsius, on the Mana river near the village of Ust-Mana, 31 km (19 miles) south of the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, January 18, 2012. Russian Orthodox believers will celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany with a midnight immersion in water on the morning of January 19. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin

Christian pilgrims emerge from the water of the Jordan River during a ceremony at the baptismal site known as Qasr el-Yahud, near the West Bank city of Jericho January 18, 2012. Orthodox Christians flocked to the Jordan River on Wednesday to celebrate the feast of the Epiphany at the traditional site where it is believed John the Baptist baptised Jesus Christ. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

A man swims in an ice hole in the Sea of Japan in sub zero temperatures during celebrations for Russian Orthodox Epiphany in Amur Bay, near Russia's far eastern port of Vladivostok, January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Yuri Maltsev

A man kisses a cross after winning a competition to retrieve it from the water during Orthodox Epiphany day celebrations in the port of Porto Rafti, some 40km (25 miles) northeast of Athens January 6, 2012. Orthodox priests throughout the country bless the water by throwing a cross into water bodies as worshippers swim and try to retrieve it. REUTERS/John Kolesidis

A Belarus Orthodox priest dips a cross into waters of the Tsnyanskoye reservoir during Epiphany celebrations in Minsk late January 18, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Vladimir Nikolsky

A man dips into the icy waters of Tsnyanskoye reservoir during Epiphany celebrations in Minsk late January 18, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Vladimir Nikolsky

A man takes a dip in the icy waters of the Mana river after the midnight Orthodox Epiphany service, with the air temperature at about minus 37 degrees Celsius, near the village of Ust-Mana, 31 km (19 miles) south of Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Julian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin

A woman takes a dip in the icy waters of the Mana river after the midnight Orthodox Epiphany service, with the air temperature at about minus 37 degrees Celsius, near the village of Ust-Mana, 31 km (19 miles) south of Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Julian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin

A woman's hair freezes after taking a dip in the icy waters of the Mana river after the midnight Orthodox Epiphany service, with the air temperature at about minus 37 degrees Celsius, near the village of Ust-Mana, 31 km (19 miles) south of Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Julian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin

A boy is helped while taking a dip in the icy waters of the Mana river after the midnight Orthodox Epiphany service, with the air temperature at about minus 37 degrees Celsius, near the village of Ust-Mana, 31 km (19 miles) south of Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Julian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin

A man is surrounded by steam after taking a dip in the icy waters of the Istra river during Orthodox Epiphany celebrations in Russia's town of New Jerusalem in Moscow Region, January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Anton Golubev

Spectators watch as people take a dip in the icy waters of the Istra river during Orthodox Epiphany celebrations in Russia's town of New Jerusalem in Moscow Region, January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Anton Golubev

A man takes a dip in the icy waters of the Istra river during Orthodox Epiphany celebrations in Russia's town of New Jerusalem in Moscow Region, January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Anton Golubev

Orthodox priests conduct a service at Epiphany celebrations on the Bolshaya Almatinka river bank in Almaty January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov

A man crosses himself after taking a dip in the icy water of the Bolshaya Almatinka river, as an emergency rescuer looks on, during Epiphany celebrations in Almaty January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov

A woman pours water on herself during Epiphany celebrations on a bank of the Bolshaya Almatinka river in Almaty January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov

An Orthodox priest dips a cross in the water of the Istra river during Orthodox Epiphany celebrations in Russia's town of New Jerusalem in Moscow Region, January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Anton Golubev

A man takes a dip in the icy waters of the Istra river during Orthodox Epiphany celebrations in Russia's town of New Jerusalem in the Moscow Region, January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Anton Golubev

An Orthodox priest conducts a service at Epiphany celebrations on the Bolshaya Almatinka river bank in Almaty January 19, 2012. Orthodox Christians celebrate the religious holiday of Epiphany according to the Gregorian calendar on January 19. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov