White is traditionally worn by many people celebrating New Year's Eve in Brazil.
The custom is especially visible at beach celebrations such as Rio de Janeiro's Réveillon on Copacabana Beach. White clothing is commonly associated with peace, harmony, renewal, and a hopeful beginning to the new year. Large crowds in white create one of the celebration's most recognizable visual features.
The practice has connections with Afro-Brazilian religious traditions, in which white clothing can carry spiritual and ritual significance. However, not everyone wearing white is participating in a religious ceremony; many people choose the color as a secular festive custom.
Brazilian New Year's celebrations also commonly feature music, fireworks, family gatherings, and food. Some participants honor Iemanjá, a sea-associated orixá, with offerings at the shoreline. White clothing is therefore one element of a broad set of customs, not a legal requirement or universal rule. Individual families and regions may observe different traditions.