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New
Year Traditions in Brazil
New Year’s
Eve happens during Brazil’s summer, providing a very pleasant
atmosphere for outdoor celebrations. Copacabana Beach is the
most popular destination and is the biggest meeting point at
midnight every year.
The beautiful
New Year's Eve fireworks display at Copacabana beach is a special
event. It lasts for almost thirty minutes. Fireworks are placed
on the boats anchored along the beach at a safe distance from
the festivities.
To celebrate
the New Year a variety of entertainment shows are hosted on the
beach along with free live music to enhance the mood of festivity.
The celebration continues late into the night and millions of
people come together to celebrate the New Year filling each and
every space on the beach and the sidewalks. The beach kiosks,
bars and restaurants remain open during the whole night. |
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New Year
Eve at Copacabana beach - Dec 31, 2002 |
Brazilians
have very strong traditions related to the New Years holiday,
all having to do with bringing good luck and fortune. The most
popular tradition is to dress in white and new clothes on New
Year’s Eve in order to bring good luck and peace for the
year that will follow. Another Brazilian New Year Eve tradition
is eating lentils to bring good wealth and fortune in the year
to come and eating grapes making wishes.
The mixture
of Brazilian and African cultures can be seen during the celebrations.
According to some popular beliefs, Iemanjá, the Afro-Brazilian
goddess who protects the sea, can make peoples wishes come true.
Because of that, many people go to the beach to pay homage to
Iemanjá. Blue and white boats filled with flowers and
other offerings are left to the sea goddess. People also light
candles in the sand on the beach and throw flowers to Iemanjá
on the water. |
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December
31, 2007 |
December
31, 2007 |
Our
New Year pictures
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December
31, 2002
The fireworks
beginning at midnight in Barra da Tijuca beach to celebrate the
coming of the new year. Lots of people gathered on the sidewalks
and on the beach. The street alongside the beach is closed for
traffic on the 31st in the evening. |
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People
at the beach, most dressed in white clothes following the tradition. |
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December
31, 2004
On the
right, the fireworks beginning at midnight in Barra da Tijuca
beach. Below, our New Year dinner and desserts. |
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People
gathered at the beach and on the sidewalk along the beach celebrating
new year. |
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The same
beach on the day after, a beautiful summer day to welcome the
new year. |
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December
31, 2005
On the
right, our table set for the New Year dinner and below, the fireworks
beginning at midnight in Barra da Tijuca beach. |
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::
Back
to the New Year Menu ::
This
page was created on: December 6, 2003.
Last updated on: December 30, 2008.
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Graphics
by Irene, Helena and www.graphicsbygrace.com.
Please, note that Grace's website is not on line anymore. |
 
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