The marvellous city has activities available 365 days of the year, but its places of interest go beyond Ipanema and Copacabana beaches. The lifestyle of the Cariocas may surprise you, and the mix of the African and Portuguese culture in their exuberant nature is the perfect blend for spending Christmas and New Year in Rio de Janeiro. 

Christmas in Rio de Janeiro

To spend Christmas and New Year in Rio de Janeiro and feel like a real Carioca, you have to start by visiting the huge floating Christmas tree, which illuminates the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas between November 26 and January 6. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it's the biggest in the world. The opening event of the tree is one of the largest events of the city: In 2011, approximately 200,000 people went to see the 3 million micro lights go on for the first time.

[caption id="attachment_7630" align="aligncenter" width="640"]The world's biggest floating Christmas tree illuminating Ipanema from the Rodrigo de Freitas Lake The world's biggest floating Christmas tree illuminating Ipanema from the Rodrigo de Freitas Lake / source[/caption]

Another event you shouldn't miss before Christmas is the Christmas Crib Festival, open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at “Jardim de Alah” (Allah’s Garden), the beach canal that separates the neighbourhoods of Ipanema and Leblon. The crib Festival became one of the most famous in the world as many Brazilian artists compete with their best crib representations of Jesus birth. The artistic pieces are available under the open air.

[caption id="attachment_7632" align="aligncenter" width="640"]Brazilian artists represent Jesus Birth's Crib during Christmas in Rio de Janeiro Brazilian artists represent Jesus Birth's Crib during Christmas in Rio de Janeiro / source[/caption]

New Year's in Copacabana

Christmas and New Year in Rio de Janeiro is a combination of different traditions and religions. It’s a tradition to dress in white, symbolizing peace, but you're also free to wear another colour, depending on what you wish for the year to come (e.g.: yellow to symbolize money, green for hope, red for passion). Other traditions include eating lentils, throwing flowers and coins to the sea as a gift to the gods, and jumping seven waves for good luck.

There are a number of parties and celebrations for New Year's Eve scattered all over Rio de Janeiro's beaches. The most traditional and the biggest of its kind in the world is the one on Copacabana beach with many concerts and dancing the whole night long. Countless arenas are built in the streets of Rio de Janeiro for the New Year's Eve or Reveillon in Portuguese, and the magnitude of the event is second in size only to the infamous samba carnival. The New Year's gatherings bring together national and international artists, samba, Brazilian rock-reggae, and electronic music. It’s good to be prepared and go earlier, because the crowd can swell to 2 million people. It's no wonder, since the amazing fireworks over the Atlantic ocean can last up to 20 minutes, giving you one of the best spectacles you've ever seen.

Rio is definitely the best place to spend your holidays. Any time is a good time, so if you're coming for Christmas and New Year in Rio de Janeiro make sure you make your bookings in advance and be ready for the hottest celebration ever! To book tours and activities in Rio de Janeiro, take a look in our catalog and get the best of your holidays.

Happy Travels!

By: Albano Moura For: Rdj4u