New Year's at the Beach
Brazilians like to celebrate o Ano Novo, or Réveillon, New Year’s Eve outdoors. The end of year holidays come in the summer, right at the beginning of the academic summer vacation, creating the ideal period for people to travel to the beach for this celebration. It’s also worth remembering that o litoral, the coast, is the most populated region of the country, so a lot of people are either there already or a short ride away.
Most revelers will typically enjoy a ceia de ano novo, a New Year’s supper at home and then go to the beach para os fogos de artifícios, for the midnight fireworks. Another popular tradition when at the beach is pular sete ondas, to jump seven waves and colocar flores no mar para Iemanjá, place flowers in the sea as offerings to the Candomblé Goddess, Iemanjá, both to usher in a lucky new year.
Below you’ll find some formal and informal expressions Brazilians use to wish a Happy New Year in cards or in person, and after that a traditional refrain people sing before the evening’s countdown.
Feliz Ano Novo! Happy New Year! (informal)
Que o ano novo seja cheio de paz e amor. May the New Year be full of peace and love. (formal)
Desejo a você e a sua família um ótimo ano! I wish you and your family a great year! (informal)
Que 2015 seja repleto de paz, saúde e prosperidade. May 2015 be full of peace, health and prosperity. (formal)
Um ano cheio de harmonia e progresso, são os nossos votos. A year full of harmony and progress are our tidings. (formal)
Click on the link below to practice the expressions:
Adeus Ano Velho (David Nasser and Francisco Alves)
Adeus ano velho – Goodbye old year
Feliz ano novo! – Happy New Year!
Que tudo se realize – May everything be accomplished
No ano que vai nascer – In the year being born
Muito dinheiro no bolso – A lot of money in the pocket
Saúde pra dar e vender – Health to give and to sell
Para os solteiros, sorte no amor – To those who are young, luck in love
Nenhuma esperança perdida – No lost hope
Para os casados nenhuma briga – To those who are married, no fights
Paz e sossego na vida! – Peace and tranquility in life!
Click here to sing along: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S7WaKbqkRI
