Brazil is a country known for it's parties and festivals - and their elaborate New Year's Eve celebration is no exception. New Year’s Eve, or "Réveillon," holds a special place as one of the most widely celebrated events in the country. Its unique blend of indigenous, African, and European influences has given rise to a unique event combining traditional religious practices with the modern NYE experiences such as fireworks. One of Brazil's - and the world's - biggest New Years eve celebrations is held on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.
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This post will explore how Brazilians celebrate Reveillon (New Year's Eve), their unique traditions, and what happens at the world's largest new year's eve celebration held on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach.
Traditions and Their Significance
New Year’s Eve in Brazil is steeped in rituals and traditions, many of which are rooted in cultural symbolism. These practices are intended to bring good fortune, health, and happiness in the year ahead.
Why do Brazilians wear white for New Year's Eve?
White is the dominant color on New Year’s Eve in Brazil. Wearing white symbolizes peace and renewal. This practice originates from Afro-Brazilian traditions, particularly those of the Candomblé and Umbanda religions, where white represents purity and is a way of honoring the orixás, or deities. This tradition is widely adopted across the country.
Here are some of Brazil's other NYE traditions:
Colored underwear: In addition to white clothing, Brazilians wear underwear in specific colors to attract certain energies or outcomes in the coming year. Each color is associated with a particular wish: yellow for wealth, red for passion, green for health, and pink for love, white for peace, orange for patience, purple for inspiration or spirituality, and more.
Jumping Seven Waves: Once the clock strikes midnight, it is tradition to jump over seven waves while making a wish with each jump. This ritual is also tied to Afro-Brazilian spiritual practices and pays homage to Iemanjá, the goddess of the sea. Participants seek her blessing for protection and prosperity. After completing the ritual, some people leave offerings such as flowers or candles. It is said that if they go out to sea, the goddess has accepted your offering.
Eating Lentils: Eating specific foods is another common practice during Réveillon, brought to Brazil by Italian immigrants. Brazilians prepare lentilha da sorte, a dish made with lentils, vegetables, and sausage. Lentils are believed to symbolize abundance and prosperity, and may bring you money in the new year.
Eating Grapes: It is also common to eat also eat 12 grapes at midnight, with each grape representing one month of the year.
Rio de Janeiro's Celebration on Copacabana Beach
While New Year’s Eve is celebrated across Brazil, Rio de Janeiro hosts the most iconic event. The celebration at Copacabana Beach draws millions of locals and tourists from around the world. It is considered one of the largest outdoor New Year’s Eve events globally, and attracted over 2.5 million people in 2024, of which 25% were tourists.
Copacabana Beach stretches for four kilometers and serves as the epicenter of the festivities. People begin arriving early in the day to secure their spots, outlining little circles in the sand where their group will sit and leave their belongings, including coolers and cangas (sarongs) to sit on. The crowds are diverse and include families, groups of friends, and visitors from around the world.
The event features live performances by renowned artists and bands. In 2024, one of Brazil's most famous artists internationally, Anitta, headlined the celebrations. The concerts typically include a mix of Brazilian music genres, such as samba, funk, and MPB (Brazilian Popular Music). Multiple stages are set up along the beach.
The highlight of the Copacabana celebration is the fireworks display, which begins at midnight and lasts for several minutes. The show is synchronized with music and is launched from ships anchored offshore, providing a spectacular view for the crowds of people celebrating on the beachfront. The fireworks light up the sky for miles, symbolizing a fresh start and the promise of the new year.
With millions of people in attendance, the city implements extensive security measures to ensure a safe experience. It is ideal to find accommodation in Copacabana so that you can walk home after the party, however this requires booking well in advance and hotels and hostels fill up months ahead of NYE.
Public transportation operates on extended schedules, however metro tickets sell out days in advance. If you are not staying in Copacabana, it's important to arrive early and plan how to get home in advance, as roads near the beach are closed to vehicles during the event - closing at 8pm and not opening again until the early hours of the next morning. Getting an Uber will be near impossible.
Other Celebrations in Brazil
Although Rio’s Copacabana Beach is the most famous location for New Year’s Eve celebrations, other cities across Brazil host their own events. Salvador, Florianópolis, and São Paulo are popular places to celebrate, with music, fireworks, and their own traditions. Each city brings its own flavor to the festivities, but most places in Brazil, even smaller towns, will have music, fireworks displays, and enthusiastic locals ready to celebrate the new year.
Have you ever celebrated New Years Eve in Brazil? Tell me about your experience in the comments below!
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