Réveillon is the French name for a late festive meal or celebration held on New Year's Eve, and also for a similar Christmas Eve gathering.
A New Year's réveillon may include elaborate food, champagne, music and time spent with family or friends. The word comes from the French verb réveiller, meaning “to wake” or “to awaken,” reflecting the tradition of staying awake through the night.
The meal is not one single standardized menu. Depending on region, household and budget, it may include oysters, foie gras, seafood, poultry, pastries or other special dishes. Restaurants and hotels commonly advertise formal réveillon events, while private homes may host simpler dinners.
Réveillon should not be confused with the French national holiday Bastille Day or with galette des rois, the pastry associated with Epiphany. The term also appears in Portuguese-speaking contexts as réveillon for New Year's celebrations, especially in Brazil, though local customs differ.