Brazilian New Year: A Time for Celebration

After reading more about Brazilian holiday traditions I discovered that New Year (Ano Nove or Revillion) is considered to be one of the biggest celebrations of the year!
The following was taken from:  http://www.newyearfestival.com/new-year-in-brazil.html

New Year In Brazil


Brazilian New Year is one of the most traditionally celebrated festival for the people living there. New Year in Brazil is known as Ano Nove (Portuguese) but is more popularly known as Revillion. It is celebrated on January 1 as per the Gregorian Calendar.

New Year is the time when people from various parts of the world like to celebrate it in Brazil. Pubs, party halls, clubs, beaches and even roads are thronged with people.

New Year's Traditions
New Year's celebrations in Brazil reflects it's culture and tradition. On the New Year's day, it's a tradition to consume lentils and rice. It is believed to bring in prosperity and good fortune in the coming year.

De Iemanjá Festival
People dressed in white offer flowers and gifts to the Iemanjá, the Goddess of the Water in the Brazilian Umbanda religion. The colorful floating candles gives a splendid view at the time of New Year.

This festival is celebrated with much devotion and sincerity by the fishermen of the city. They believe the catch at the time reflects the catch for rest of the year.

New Year's Celebrations in Brazil

Véspera de Ano Novo or the New Year's Eve is the most important day for the people of Brazil. The best New Year celebrations can be seen in the most important city of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro. New Year celebrations are marked with numerous fireworks and crackers. Musical shows, concerts and other dance performances are the highlights of New Year celebrations in Brazil. The world famous Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro is overcrowded with people on the New Year's Eve.

Another feature of New Year's celebrations is the Brazilian Carnival. People dress up in gaudy clothes and walk down streets singing and dancing on beats of various traditional songs. The famous samba get people on their feet every year.

Any party is not complete without perfect music. New Year's Eve celebrations include numerous local Brazilian artists like samba, frevo, pagode, Axe and forro.

Last but not least, dinner is the best part of Brazilian New Year's Celebrations. It includes farofa (tapioca grains flavored with spices), salads, rice, chicken and marajucá mousse (fruit) which is relished by people present in Brazil to have the taste of it's culture