Rio de Janeiro's traditional New Year's Eve celebration is called Réveillon.
In Brazil, Réveillon refers to New Year's Eve celebrations, and Rio de Janeiro's event is especially famous for its enormous gathering on Copacabana Beach. The night combines concerts, fireworks and religious or cultural traditions connected with the sea. White clothing is widely associated with the celebration and is often chosen as a symbol of peace.
At midnight, many participants watch fireworks launched over the Atlantic Ocean. Some people also honor Iemanjá, an important orixá associated with the sea in Afro-Brazilian religious traditions, by making offerings or flowers part of the evening's observances. Practices vary among individuals and communities.
Réveillon is a French-derived term used in Portuguese-speaking contexts for a festive New Year's Eve meal or celebration. It is not the name of Brazil's famous pre-Lenten Carnival, which is a separate festival with different dates and traditions. Rio's beach celebration is among the largest annual public New Year's gatherings in the world.