Brazil’s New Year’s Eve celebration at Copacabana Beach is called Réveillon.
Réveillon is the Portuguese term commonly used in Brazil for New Year’s Eve festivities. Rio de Janeiro’s event is especially famous for its beach crowds, music, ceremonial clothing, offerings associated with Afro-Brazilian traditions, and fireworks over the Atlantic Ocean.
Copacabana’s celebration became one of the world’s most recognizable New Year gatherings because of its enormous public audience and dramatic beachfront setting. Many attendees wear white, a practice associated with peace and renewal, though individual customs vary and the event includes people from many backgrounds.
Réveillon should not be confused with Carnaval, Brazil’s pre-Lenten festival. Both may feature music, costumes, and huge crowds, but Réveillon marks the passage from 31 December to 1 January, while Carnaval follows a different religious and seasonal calendar.