Brazil’s New Year’s Eve celebration is commonly called Réveillon, including the famous gathering on Copacabana Beach.
Réveillon is the Portuguese term widely used in Brazil for New Year’s Eve celebrations. Rio de Janeiro’s event on Copacabana Beach is among the world’s largest annual public parties, combining music, crowds, fireworks, and traditions connected with the sea.
Many participants wear white, a color associated with peace and renewal. Some people also make offerings to Iemanjá, an important figure in Afro-Brazilian religious traditions, by placing flowers or small objects on the water. These practices vary according to personal belief and religious background.
The Copacabana fireworks are launched from boats offshore, helping spread the display across the beach without placing launch equipment among the crowd. Réveillon is sometimes confused with Carnaval, Brazil’s famous pre-Lenten festival. They are separate celebrations: Réveillon marks the new calendar year, while Carnaval follows a different religious and seasonal timetable.