Brazil is the country where many New Year's Eve revelers jump seven waves for good luck.
The custom is especially visible at coastal celebrations such as Rio de Janeiro's Reveillon. Participants enter the sea and jump over seven waves, making a wish or intention with each one. The number seven is associated with spiritual significance, and the practice is commonly connected with traditions linked to Iemanja, the Afro-Brazilian orixá associated with the sea.
Many participants wear white during the ritual, reflecting a widespread association with peace and renewal. Some people leave flowers or other offerings at the water, although practices differ and environmental concerns have shaped how celebrations are conducted.
Wave-jumping is not a national legal requirement or a universal Brazilian practice. It is a popular coastal custom that can be particularly prominent in Rio. Inland celebrations may emphasize family meals, fireworks, music, and other traditions instead, so the ritual should be understood as one recognizable Brazilian New Year's custom rather than the country's only celebration.