What is the traditional New Year's Eve event in Brazil often called?

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The traditional New Year's Eve event in Brazil is often called Réveillon.

In Brazil, Réveillon refers to New Year's Eve celebrations and the transition into the new year. The word comes from French and is used in Portuguese to describe the festive evening, especially the dinner, parties, and public celebrations held on December 31.

One of the world's best-known Réveillon gatherings takes place on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. Large crowds traditionally watch fireworks over the Atlantic Ocean, attend concerts, and dress in white. White clothing is widely associated with peace and renewal, though people may also wear colors connected with personal wishes such as love, health, or prosperity.

Brazilian celebrations can include Afro-Brazilian religious traditions, offerings, music, dancing, and family meals, but customs vary greatly by region and community. Réveillon should not be treated as the name of only Rio's event; it is a broader Portuguese term for New Year's Eve festivities.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

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