White Celebration

The celebration of New Year in Rio is an incredible and unique spectacle. December 31st is the day of Iemanja, the Goddess of the Sea, and one of the most important deities of the Afro-Brazilian religion, Macumba. In the afternoon, Copacabana Beach becomes a living sea of people and glowing candles as the Macumba rituals are played out. As nightfall draws on, more and more people arrive to join in the celebrations, and, by midnight, more than two million people, predominantly dressed in white, will be present. Right before midnight, the faithful set their gifts and offerings to Iemanja at water’s edge. If all goes according to plan, the waves will pluck their offerings up and drag them into the ocean. Midnight is signaled by a spectacular fireworks display launched from several spots along the beach. After midnight the city goes back to partying and the year's first samba strikes up. New Year parties are held in the streets, on the beach, in ocean front apartments, in all the ocean front hotels and on boats off Copacabana.