ogum is not the only african deity widely venerated in the city - new years eve in rio is marked not only by wild parties, but also by the devotion of millions to the festa de yemanjá. goddess of the water, yemanjá is the mother of all the gods in the pantheon of umbanda. 

although her traditional festival day is the 2nd of february and is the analogue of the catholic devotional days for our lady of navigators and our lady of conception, her devotees in rio de janeiro mark the new year by casting offerings to her into the sea, either by hand or by boat.