New Year's Eve Around the World

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The Largest New Year's Eve Celebrations

The largest New Year's Eve celebrations are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sydney, Australia; London, England; and New York, New York.

Rio de Janeiro

Renown Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro is host to the largest New Year's Eve celebration worldwide.  Each year, nearly 2 million people flock to the beach to enjoy enormous parties that include African, Christian, and indigenous traditions.  During the day hundreds of people come to the sea to pay homage to the Afro-Brazilian Orixá, or goddess, Iemanjá.  Locals throw white flowers into the sea and placing offerings on the beach in her honor.  If you plan to go, make sure you are dressed only in white as white is considered a symbol of good luck and fortune.  You can accessorize with red (symbolizing romance), green (for good health) and yellow and gold (for prosperity).  Imagine 2 million people on the beach dressed only in white—what a spectacular display of unity to welcome the new year!  At midnight, a mesmerizing display of fireworks starts but the party continues well into the next day!