The best, most horrified faces from the annual Polar Bear swim

One look at this nutty group and you'll be happy you stayed bundled up on the couch

Toronto, Canada, polar bear swim.
(Image credit: (Shutterjet/Demotix/Corbis))
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Quick quiz for you.

How did you spend New Year's Day?

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If you answered C, congratulations! You are one of the completely nutty members of the Polar Bear swim club. Every January 1, members of this group dress in elaborate costumes, T-shirts, or their summer skivvies, and congregate in winter-climate cities from New York City to Seattle to take one very frigid plunge into icy waters. A curious New Year's tradition, to be sure.

If you're nonetheless feeling excluded by answering A or B, here are our favorite photos of excruciating expressions that prove yours was the right answer.

Lauren Hansen
Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.

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