If you spend Réveillon in Rio, you'll see the beach full of people dressed in white, flowers on the shore and groups jumping waves at midnight. These are popular customs, not rules, and they have different roots. This guide explains what each one means so you can take part with some context, without mixing up tradition and rules.
At a glance
- White: according to the official Rio Réveillon website, it stands for peace and spiritual renewal.
- The seven waves: at midnight, many people jump seven waves in a row and make a wish with each one.
- Flowers for Iemanjá: offerings to the sea linked to Afro-Brazilian religions.
- At the table: lentils, grapes and pomegranate, to wish for prosperity.
- Traditions, not rules: nobody requires you to wear white on the beach; some paid parties do suggest it in their dress code.
White
Wearing white is the best-known image of Rio's Réveillon. In a December 2025 article, the official Rio Réveillon website ↗ explains that the color represents peace and spiritual renewal and turns the waterfront into a "sea of white."
Where does it come from? A BBC News Brasil report, republished by Correio Braziliense ↗, links it to Afro-Brazilian religious rituals on the beach: according to that report, the custom spread in the 1970s, when people passing through Copacabana saw worshippers in white making offerings and adopted the color.
Today white is a custom shared by people of all beliefs. Some add colored underwear depending on their wish for the year: the Réveillon website mentions yellow or gold for money, pink for love, green for health and red for passion.
The seven waves
At midnight, many people go into the water to jump seven waves in a row and make a wish with each jump. The BBC News Brasil report associates this custom with Umbanda and the worship of Iemanjá.
If you want to do it, stay at the water's edge where you can touch the bottom, and don't go in if the sea is rough or if you've been drinking. At night and in a crowd is no time to swim. Before the date, also check water quality with this guide to INEA's bulletin.
Flowers and offerings to Iemanjá
Iemanjá is the orixá of the sea in Afro-Brazilian religions. The BBC News Brasil report describes her as a figure who likes flowers and perfume. During Réveillon you'll see offerings on the sand or carried into the water. For those who leave them, it's a religious act: if you come across a ceremony, watch respectfully and don't step on or move the offerings.
Customs at the table
The Rio Réveillon article goes over several popular customs:
- Lentils after midnight, because the grains look like coins.
- Twelve grapes, one for each month of the year, with a wish for each.
- Pomegranate: eat a few seeds and keep some in your wallet.
- A bay leaf or money in your wallet or shoe, as a symbol of prosperity.
- A toast with champagne at midnight.
Popular tradition and event rules
The customs aren't mandatory. Rules, on the other hand, are set by each event:
- On the beach: access, permitted items and traffic closures are announced by City Hall and the organizers close to the date. Check them in the Réveillon 2027 guide.
- At paid parties: each one sets its own dress code. For example, Copacabana Palace lists a smart casual dress code for welcoming 2027, "with the traditional white suggested," according to its event page ↗.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to wear white?
No. It's a very widespread tradition, but nobody requires it on the beach. Some parties suggest it in their dress code.
Can I bring flowers to the sea?
You can bring flowers as part of the tradition. Leave them at the water's edge without going into the sea at night, and respect those making religious offerings.
How do I plan the night in Copacabana?
There's a step-by-step guide in Réveillon 2027 in Copacabana and paid options in Réveillon 2027 parties and dinners.
Sources: Réveillon Rio: New Year's customs (December 2025) ↗, BBC News Brasil via Correio Braziliense ↗ and Copacabana Palace: Réveillon ↗, accessed October 27, 2026.