Seven Waves for Seven Wishes

If you are still in a dilemma about where to spend New Year’s Eve, and you have a cheerful and adventurous disposition, as well as the means to travel, the right solution for you may be Brazil.

Text & Photo by Svetlana Dingarac

In the land of samba and football, the New Year falls at the beginning of the summer season, thereby opening the season of holidays, summer vacations and numerous festivities, including carnivals. Cultural and entertainment events, accompanied by a music programme and midnight fireworks, are held in most cities in Brazil. The largest and best known in the view of many is the celebration in Rio de Janeiro. On the Copacabana, the famous beach of the City of Wonders, up to 2.5 million people gather for the fantastic visual and musical spectacle, enjoying themselves through the early morning hours. No wonder the New Year in Rio ranks high on the list of international New Year destinations, on par with New York, Sydney and Paris.

It is noteworthy that two names are used for the New Year in Brazil. Although Portuguese, which is spoken here, has an adequate term – Ano Novo – in everyday speech the French term Réveillon is more frequently used; the word means to wake up. It is often noted that New Year’s Eve in Brazil is characterised by the French name, Italian specialties and fun in the best Brazilian style, including fireworks, family gatherings and the rituals of numerous sects whose origins are from Africa. As large numbers of Italian descendants live in Brazil, which accounts for the inclination towards Italian cuisine, the majority population has some percentage of African blood as a result of widespread intermixing between former colonizers and slaves. Followers of Candomble, Umbanda and Ata believe offering gifts to guardian angels on the last day of the year ensures happiness and prosperity in the coming year. The main rituals are conducted on beaches and are dedicated primarily to Yemanja, the sea goddess. She embodies a blend of African goddess and the Madonna, and is the unofficial protector of Rio de Janeiro. In actual fact, the New Year celebration in Rio begins with these rituals that start at noon on December 31. Dressed in white, believers rally at beaches around improvised altars on the sand, where they light candles and sing religious songs. Gifts for Yemanja are brought in the form of candles, jewelry, spirits and candy to ensure a successful coming year. As there are some 30 million adherents of Yemanja in Brazil, by nightfall Copacabana is virtually covered in flowers, altars and thousands of lit candles.

The impressive fireworks start at midnight. Along with greetings and kisses, everyone goes into the ocean to jump over seven consecutive waves to have seven wishes granted. Many let out little boats laden with flowers and candles to honour Yemanja. It is believed that if one’s little boat sails towards the open sea, one’s wishes will be granted. The celebrations continue with song and dance and general merrymaking and are joined by everyone, regardless of social standing, age or race.

Each year the Rio city government invests considerable funds and effort to surpass last year’s programme in terms of the beauty of visual effects, music and safety. This year, they have planned for the fireworks to last for as long as 16 minutes. With eight rafts anchored along Copacabana beach, 24 tonnes of flaring fireworks charges with 3D effects will be used to symbolically represent love, prosperity and peace. This will be followed by celebrities who will play the local popular music; samba and bossa nova. This year organisers intend to use a sound system to cover the entire beach so that every one of the 2.5 million people can enjoy the concert. As many as 32 poles with gigantic loudspeakers, each 10 by 12 metres, will be placed along Copacabana. A total of 2,500 police officers will be in charge of safety. They will monitor the event on the beach from 17 high points.

An estimated 600,000 domestic and foreign guests are expected to attend the spectacular events on New Year’s Eve at Copacabana and the city expects to generate an income from tourism of up to a half billion dollars. Most of the hotels have been booked for many months in advance, and finding vacancies is a true challenge.

Another must-see New Year’s attraction in Rio is the floating artificial Christmas tree that is launched into the lagoon each December from the city’s most elite quarter. When it was first launched in 1996, it was just 48 metres tall. Its height increased each year, reaching 85 metres last year. As such, it was entered in the Guinness Book of World Records for its imaginative decorations and grandiosity.

Sao Paolo has an unusual and interesting New Year’s tradition. This city is the country’s major economic centre. The most prestigious and massive street race in South America – the Saint Sylvester’s – is held in this city of 20 million people each December 31. In addition to world class runners, a large number of amateurs dressed in the most incredible costumes also take part. Last year’s race – the 83^rd – rallied the largest number of contestants, over 20,000. They all ran the race through the central city section in scorching heat. Even though the race is only 15 kilometres long, temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius make this race far from easy. Serbia’s top female runner Olivera Jeftić has twice won the Saint Sylvester’s race – in 1998 and in 2005.

After the race, a massive New Year’s celebration begins with a concert and fireworks. It is estimated that each year more than two million people attend this spectacle in Paulista Avenue. Thus, New Year’s Eve in Sao Paolo ranks among the world’s most massive celebrations.

There are numerous customs and beliefs in Brazil regarding the celebration of the New Year. Apart from the ones already mentioned, jumping a step forward on one’s right foot as well as throwing an object over one’s shoulder to eliminate everything bad from the departing year is bound to ensure success in the coming year. Whoever wants money must make sure not to await the New Year with an empty wallet, and those who cherish happiness in love must first extend greetings to a person of the opposite sex and wear a new set of undergarments. The colour of one’s clothes for the New Year is also symbolic. The traditional white colour denotes peace and light, blue brings a gentle demeanour and tranquility, yellow means wealth, red – passion, pink – love, green – hope and self-assurance, and violet – a balance of emotions.

Another curiosity about celebrating the New Year in Brazil – it is the only equatorial country that, due to its size, adjusts the clock for the winter season. All other countries have no need to do this because the Sun for the most part moves in the same direction throughout the year. This has caused frequent polemics and uncertainties as to when, exactly, the New Year arrives. To be on the safe side and to ensure their wishes will be met, resourceful people celebrate the arrival of the New Year twice – at midnight and at 1 a.m.

And finally, whether to opt for a grand–scale party on the hot sands of Copacabana with champagne and in the company of a pair of exotic beauties, or to make it to the street race’s finish just as the year ends is a matter of personal choice for each person. What is guaranteed, however, is unforgettable fun because the cheerful Brazilians know how to celebrate indeed. And so Feliz Ano Novo – and let the fun begin!