Brazil’s New Year’s Eve celebration is commonly called Réveillon.
In Brazil, Réveillon refers to New Year’s Eve and the celebrations welcoming the new year. Major gatherings take place in coastal cities, especially Rio de Janeiro, where millions of people have traditionally gathered around Copacabana Beach for concerts, fireworks, and midnight festivities.
Wearing white clothing is a prominent Brazilian New Year custom. White is commonly associated with peace and renewal, while some celebrants add colored accessories believed to express wishes such as love, prosperity, or health. In Afro-Brazilian traditions, offerings and ceremonies connected with the sea may also form part of the celebration, particularly in Rio.
Réveillon is a French-derived term used in Portuguese-speaking contexts for a festive New Year occasion. It is not the same event as Carnaval, Brazil’s pre-Lenten festival. Fireworks, music, communal meals, and symbolic wishes are central features, but exact customs vary by city and household.