White clothing is traditionally associated with New Year's Eve celebrations on Copacabana Beach in Brazil.
Brazilian Réveillon celebrations are especially famous in Rio de Janeiro, where large crowds gather on Copacabana Beach for concerts, fireworks, and rituals connected with the sea. Wearing white is widely associated with peace, renewal, and good fortune for the coming year.
The custom also reflects the influence of Afro-Brazilian religious traditions, including practices honoring Iemanjá, a sea-associated orisha. Some participants make offerings or throw flowers into the ocean, although these practices vary by person and religious tradition.
White is a customary color, not a legal requirement or universal rule. Other colors may be chosen for symbolic wishes, such as love or prosperity. The beach celebration is often called Réveillon, a French-derived term used in Brazil for New Year's Eve festivities.