Revéillon- the Ultimate New Year’s Revel in Brazil

Few folks can party like South Americans. My mom would tell me stories of how millions of people dress up in white for New Years Eve in countries like Cuba and Brazil and head to the ocean for a sumptuous dinner. I often think of that experience- millions of revelers dressed in white on a moonlight- kissed beach, drinking tropical cocktails made of citrus juice and Cachaça (a sugar cane spirit), eating freshly grilled seafood and dancing. Now that’s how I’d like to spend a shiver-free New Year’s eve for a change!

And that’s exactly what the lucky masses and tourists do every year in Brazil. Second only to the country’s famous “Carnival,” there’s nothing quite like a Brazilian Revéillon to close out the old and ring in the new. While French in name only, the yearly Ano Novo parties in Brazil are particularly hot in beaches throughout Rio. The Zona Sul beaches, which include Copacabana, Flamengo, Ipanema (named after that girl), and Barra de Tijuca are where the real party starts.

White- the colour of good luck, peace, purity and the Goddess of the Sea- Yemanjá in the Candomblé religion- is the colour of choice for not only for clothing but the flowers, rice and trinkets offered to her that night. Candles are lit on the beach while revelers get ready to make their offerings. Once midnight strikes, the gifts are launched into the sea on model boats. If they’re swept out by the tides, good luck will ensue in the coming year. If they’re brought back to the shore, Yemanjá wishes you better luck next time. She’s a tough task master by all accounts.

Either way, party-goers have a well-choreographed, multi-hued fireworks display to light up the tropical night, beer stalls to hit and warm waters to go swimming in to wash away the year’s excesses. On New Year’s Day, to encourage an auspicious start to the new year, soups redolent with lentils, which symbolize wealth, are eaten by all to entice wallets more than waistlines to fatten up. I love lentil soup and I’ll happily wear white this New Years! Maybe if you could put in a good word to Yemanjá for me, I’ll soon see you in Rio!