With all the celebrations going on for the New Year, one of the biggest in the world will happen in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, at Copacabana Beach. The event will include music, celebration, and fireworks that are about as big as the Ball Drop in New York City. For those that are in the city, it will be quite the party. While it is too late for most of us in the United States to see this event, it is possible to see it live.
According to Rio.com, New Years Eve is one of the most popular events in Rio, along with the Rio Carnival, bringing in about 2 million visitors. One of the big events is the Copacabana beach, and About Brasil reveals that the people gather at the Copacabana Beach all day on December 31st to honor Iemanjá, the Afro-Brazilian sea goddess of fertility and motherhood, by placing offerings like flowers and candles into the ocean. The celebration starts in the evening when DJs and bands start official stages, and the main stages are in front of the Copacabana Palace and across Rua Santa Clara.
After a live music show featuring everything a diversity of music, the fireworks begin at midnight, lasting for 15 to 20 minutes, with barges offshore to hold the fireworks. Since 2008, there has been a giant Ferris Wheel included in the celebration that has a digital light show along with scenes of Rio displayed on the wheel.
The party lasts all through the night, as many of the Brazilians wear white to bring good luck for next year, some include a splash of color for some extra blessing. One of the things that happen during the celebration is champagne. Many in the crowd love to shake the bottle and douse the crowd, and most appreciate getting hit by it. Unlike the party at NYC, people who come to the party usually bring a bottle of champagne or sparkling cider to the event.
Most of us who live in the United States probably cannot make it to Rio de Janeiro for this huge celebration, and it is too late to attempt it at this point in time. For those that can, there is a whole host of all-inclusive bars and parties that can be found at the Rio Times Online to find the best places for watching this celebration at Copacabana Beach.
If you want to view this celebration online, you can watch it on EarthCam as well as Rio de Janeiro webcams, but keep in mind the time difference. Rio de Janeiro will hit its New Year's Eve midnight a lot sooner than anyone in the United States, so check your world clock on when it will air.
