Epiphany celebrations - in pictures

Swimmers race to catch a wooden cross during a ceremony to bless the waters in the Greek port city of Thessaloniki Photograph: Nikolas Giakoumidis/AP

A boy dressed as an assistant to one of the three kings winks as he takes part in a parade in Malaga, southern Spain Photograph: Jon Nazca/Reuters

A boat is launched into the Venetian lagoon for the 34th Befana Regatta. In Italian folklore, Befana is an old woman who delivers gifts to children throughout Italy on the feast of the Epiphany Photograph: Marco Secchi/Getty Images

A miniature pony and cart at the traditional celebrations of Epiphany in Pietrosani village, Romania. Horse owners gather every year to baptise their animals and to compete in a race Photograph: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP/Getty Images

A swimming race to grab a wooden cross in Sofia, Bulgaria. According to custom, the first man to grab the cross, thrown into the water by an Eastern Orthodox priest, will be healthy throughout the New Year Photograph: Hristo Rahnev /Reuters

Boys dressed as the three kings run past a guard of honour for a procession in Prague in the Czech Republic Photograph: Filip Singer/EPA

People perform the Horo dance in the icy waters of the river in the town of Kalofer, Bulgaria Photograph: Vassil Donev/EPA

Men dressed as the three kings arrive by helicopter to take part in a street parade in Fuengirola, southern Spain Photograph: Jorge Guerrero/AFP/Getty Images

A man retrieves a cross thrown into the sea by a priest for the blessing of the waters near Athens Photograph: Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images

Cardinals at the Eucharist led by Pope Benedict XVI (not pictured) at St Peter's basilica at the Vatican Photograph: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images

People collect sweets thrown during the Cabalgata de Reyes, or the three kings parade, in the southern Spanish city of Barbate Photograph: Emilio Morenatti/AP

A villager shivers after diving into a river to retrieve a crucifix during celebrations in Serdanu, Romania Photograph: Radu Sigheti/Reuters

Bulgarian men perform a traditional Horo dance in the Tundzha river in the town of Kalofer Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images