In Brazilian New Year superstition, people traditionally jump over seven waves for good luck.
The custom is especially associated with Brazil’s coastal New Year celebrations, where revelers go into the sea around midnight and leap over seven successive waves. Each jump may be accompanied by a wish, prayer, or intention for the year ahead.
The number seven has longstanding symbolic importance in several religious and cultural traditions. In Brazil, the wave-jumping practice is also linked with Afro-Brazilian traditions honoring Lemanjá, the orixá associated with the sea. Many participants wear white clothing and offer flowers or other gifts to the ocean, although practices vary by region and personal belief.
The custom is not the same as simply swimming at midnight. Its defining feature is counting seven waves and making the crossings deliberately. Beach celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, particularly at Copacabana, have helped make the ritual internationally recognizable, while environmental rules increasingly discourage leaving offerings that could pollute the water.