New Year's celebrations are also a fundamental part of the make-up of Rio's spectacular annual festivities - At most beaches that line the coast a fireworks display is hosted, the most famous of which takes place at Copacabana beach.

The word 'réveillon' itself originates from the French word meaning, 're-awakening'.  

indeed, on New Year's night, Brazilians follow a number of quintessential traditions of African origin which relate to this idea, such as wearing white to signify the hope that a new year offers peace and purification, and to jump seven waves which derives from a belief in the spiritual power of the sea to invigorate and renew.