In Rio de Janeiro's Réveillon celebration, many people traditionally wear white for good luck.
Réveillon is Brazil's New Year's Eve celebration, and Rio de Janeiro's gathering on Copacabana Beach is its most internationally famous example. Wearing white is associated with peace, renewal, and protection for the year ahead. Millions of people may gather along the beach, although attendance varies by year and by public-health or safety conditions.
The celebration also reflects Afro-Brazilian religious traditions. Some participants honor Iemanjá, a water-associated figure, by offering flowers or small gifts to the sea. Fireworks over the shore are a major part of the midnight festivities, and concerts and religious observances contribute to the all-night atmosphere.
White is traditional but not mandatory, and people may choose additional colors for particular wishes. Green, yellow, red, and other colors can carry different symbolic meanings in popular Brazilian customs. The white clothing tradition therefore describes a common practice, not a uniform dress code for every participant.