Rio de Janeiro holds its famous New Year's Eve fireworks celebration mainly at Copacabana Beach.
The event, commonly called Réveillon in Brazil, draws huge crowds to Copacabana's broad Atlantic shoreline. Fireworks are launched from boats offshore, allowing the displays to be viewed along the beach and reducing the need for launch structures among the audience. Large concerts and stages add live entertainment before and after midnight.
Many attendees wear white, a color associated with peace and renewal, and some participate in rituals connected with Afro-Brazilian religious traditions. Offerings to Yemanjá, a sea-associated deity in Brazilian traditions, are often placed in the water, although practices vary among participants.
Copacabana is not the only place in Rio with New Year's events, and celebrations occur throughout the city. The beach is nevertheless the internationally recognized centerpiece. It is also distinct from Ipanema, another famous Rio beach located nearby but not the usual name for the main Réveillon gathering.