The tradition of New Year's swimming

The wind, storm, and even snow cannot deter the swimmers in  Split from enjoying their favorite picigine in Bačvice, and the season opens on the first day of the New Year. The decades-old tradition of the New Year's picigin is also enriched with a game of soccer on the sand.

The Mornar swimming place in Pula in the Valsaline bay is also a place for winter swimmers. Traditionally, exactly at noon, brave Pula swimmers, of whom more and more participate in such New Year's celebration every year, swim their usual winter route with a few bottles of sparkling wine and a toast.

New Year's swimming in Šibenik, traditionally take place on the city's Banj beach exactly at noon and every year has a popular theme, this year's "message to the world".

In Povile, near Novi Vinodolski, an international team of New Year's swimmers traditionally gathered on the first day of the New Year. They are lovers of Povile and Novi Vinodolski and are regular tourists in the summer and stay in their vacation homes.

At noon, swimmers jump from the Zadar Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun under the slogan "find yourself and feast".

Labin organizes New Year's swimming in Rabac on the beautiful beach near the lighthouse. Every year, along with winter swimmers, other citizens of Labinština and beyond gather to wish all the best in the New Year with cheerful company, drinking champagne in the sea.

New Year's swimming on the island of vitality, Lošinj, takes place every year at Veli žal beach in Sunny bay  exactly at noon. Traditional drinking of the famous Lošinj tea, warm robes, a watchful eye on the camera, an unforgettable time.

The most famous winter swimmers are Opatija's Kukale. The traditional New Year's toast of the mayor of Opatija and the first New Year's swimming of the Opatija kukale  is held at the Slatina  in the presence of many Opatija residents and their guests. Opatija kukale open the swimming season in their traditional sailor's, historical bathing suits, with appropriate holiday red caps on their heads.

But the New Year's opening of the swimming season is not a custom only in the regions by the sea, so citizens in the continental parts of Croatia also cherish this tradition.

Sisak do their traditional New Year's swimming in Kupa river next to the promenade of Sisak, Ogulin by jumping into the Sabljaci lake, while Osijek have swimmers in Drava river.

In a river, lake or sea, winter swimming always attracts attention, so the bravest ones have the support of numerous press teams and are cheered on by the audience and friends.