Celebrations are on the way globally… As China gets ready to bring in the New Year on January 22, what other countries have been taking party in annual festivals? From purification ceremonies to bull racing rituals… It’s around the world in 10 pictures…

Shinto worshippers are having a splashing time as they pour freezing cold water over themselves in the Kanda Myojin ritual. The cold water endurance ceremony is held annually at the beginning of the year in Tokyo, Japan. Followers of Shintoism gather around the Kanda Myojin shrine and pay tribute to Daikoku – the diety of fortune – by bathing in ice water to purify their souls in hoping for good fortune as they bring in the New Year.

Hindu pilgrims and monks gather at the Gangasagar Mela in Sagardwip in West Bengal for the annual Gangasagar Fair. It’s the second biggest congregation of Hindu pilgrims after the Kumbha Mela, attracting Hindu’s from all over the world including Canada, Japan, Nepal, Thailand, West Indies and Australia.

Animal rights activists bare it all in the freezing cold temperatures as they protest the use of fur and leather in clothes at the city centre. Campaigners for animal news organisation The Animal Reader lie naked on Madrid’s concrete floor covered in fake blood to help raise awareness about the number of animals murdered for a single fur coat in a bid to get the Spanish government to close down its fur factories.

An aerial shot shows off the breath taking scenery of advection fog in Xiamen located in China’s southeast Province in Fujian. The moment has been captured at night and reveals the illuminating skyline made up of twinkling lights.

Preparations are underway for the Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival of Lunar New Year that’s which falls on Jan 22, the year of the Rabbit. The Spring festival is the grandest festival in China as stretches over 7 days and is the most colourful event in the country thanks to its iconic red lanterns and fireworks. People celebrate globally with massive banquets and parades.

Indonesian residents with Chinese heritage also get ready to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Rabbit on January 22. The Chinese-Indonesian celebrate in their country by preparing “Lucky Food” as they believe thee dishes bring good luck and prosperity such as noodles that are thought to bring longevity and happiness and fish which symbolises good fortune. Non-Chinese residents living across the archipelago also take part in the celebrations being held in various China Towns.

Something smells fishy as locals and tourists have flocked to the lake in search of fish. The Bayingolin Mongol in Xinjiang, also known as Bosten Lake, is China’s largest freshwater inland lake that’s home to many wildlife. The people seem to be having a flipping good tine as they harvest fish at the winter fishing ceremony at Dahekou’s scenic spot in Bosten Lake.

The Doorset Ooser wooden head mask has been spotted parading around the traditional Wassailing ceremony at Bridport Community Orchard in Bridport, England. The purpose of the festival is to drive evil spirits away with the folklore character and wake up sleeping trees by making as much noise as possible with the blowing of cow horns, banging of metal trays, firing of shot guns and shaking a branches. The Wassail festival is celebrated around the community orchid on the second Sunday in January where a king and queen is crowned who chose a special tree and bless it with bread and cider.

A sit in has taken place at St Peter’s square in Italy after an investigation into the disappearance of 15-year-old Emanuela Orlandi has reopened. The sit in was organised by Pietro Orlandi, a former employee of the Vatican and Emanuela’s brother, on January 14 in memory of his sister. Emanuela Orlandi was the teenager who disappeared without a trace in 1983 behind St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. It remains one of Italy’s darkest mysteries.

Pamplona’s Running of the Bulls festival in Spain has nothing on Jallikattu’s Bull Racing Festival in Madurai. The annual event, which takes place in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, sees breeds of bull released into the crowd of multiple people who attempt to bring the bull to a stop by grabbing it by the horns. Around 60 people were injured during the celebrations which began on January 15.