The Brazilian New Year’s Eve celebration is called Réveillon, including Rio de Janeiro’s famous beach event.
In Brazil, Réveillon refers broadly to the festivities marking the arrival of the new year. The word comes through French usage and is associated with a celebratory evening meal or gathering. Brazilian Réveillon celebrations commonly combine parties, music, fireworks, and midnight rituals, with Rio’s Copacabana celebration being the most internationally recognized example.
Many participants wear white, a practice popularly connected with peace and renewal. Along coastal areas, some people honor Yemanjá or make symbolic offerings at the sea. These customs can reflect Afro-Brazilian religious traditions as well as secular holiday practices, and they vary by region and individual belief.
Réveillon should not be confused with Carnaval, Brazil’s much larger pre-Lenten festival. Carnaval generally takes place weeks later and has a different religious and cultural calendar. Festa Junina is another separate Brazilian festival, held around June. Réveillon specifically names the New Year’s celebration and the night leading into January 1.