Many New Year’s Eve celebrations featuring people jumping seven waves take place in Brazil.
The practice is especially associated with coastal celebrations, including Rio de Janeiro’s Réveillon. Participants enter the sea and jump over seven waves, often making a wish with each one. The number seven is significant in traditions connected with the sea-associated deity Iemanjá and with spiritual symbolism in Brazilian popular culture.
People may wear white clothing, light candles or leave flowers and other offerings at the shoreline. These customs reflect a mixture of influences, including Afro-Brazilian religious traditions, Catholic practices and broader Brazilian ideas about luck and renewal.
Not every Brazilian person follows the same ritual, and the practice is not limited to one religion. It is best understood as a widely recognized New Year custom that is particularly visible at large coastal gatherings rather than as a universal national requirement.