At Rio de Janeiro’s Réveillon celebration, many participants traditionally wear white on New Year’s Eve.
White clothing is associated with peace, renewal, and good fortune in Brazil’s year-end celebrations. The custom is especially visible on Copacabana Beach, where enormous crowds gather for concerts, religious offerings, and a midnight fireworks display over the Atlantic Ocean.
The celebration is called Réveillon, a French-derived term used in Brazil for the New Year’s Eve festivities. Rio’s event combines public entertainment with traditions influenced by Afro-Brazilian religions, including offerings made at the water’s edge in honor of Iemanjá in some observances.
White is traditional rather than compulsory, and some people add other colors to express wishes for love, prosperity, health, or other hopes. The color custom should therefore not be confused with an official dress code for the city’s celebration.