What Will Be Your Choice of Colour for New Year?

Many superstitions surround New Year’s Eve, some related to religion. In Brazil it has been tradition to wear white. A tradition that marks the influence of African religions and specifically to honour Iemanjá, the Queen of the Sea, and the other Orishas.

There is also a superstition in Brazil surrounding the colour of the underwear worn on the night, which should be new – although being “new” might have been a rumour started by the boutiques in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador.

So the colour white also gained other meanings over the years related to peace and renewal in the new year, and that could be reflected in your choice of underwear for New Year.

If white is peace and renewal, yellow and gold are associated with prosperity and money; blue with calm and harmony;  green to hope for better days, and so on. So to help you choose the right colour for your underwear for New Year, and give you time to go out and buy it. Here is the colour coding you need:

White: most traditional, it brings peace, purity and light to the New Year, as the colour is a mixture of all the other colours 

Yellow: A colour of underwear that has gained the most fans in recent years because it is related to financial prosperity and money all year round. 

Orange: Also related to prosperity, good opportunities and the courage to take risks. 

Green: Associated with hope and serenity for those who want a more balanced 2025. 

Blue: Linked to calm and harmony, but it also has to do with the expansion of consciousness through faith and intuition. 

Pink: Linked to love and relationships. Both for those looking for love and for those who want to harmonise energies and communication with their partner.

Red: Colour of passion, seduction and sensuality. Wearing red knickers or underwear is for those who want more energy, especially in their sex life. 

Purple or violet: Colours linked to transformation, can be used to attract a change in your life.

Brown and earthy tones: Brings security and confidence, as it is the colour linked to the earth.

Beige: For harmony and emotional stability.

Black: The symbol of power and sophistication, black brings a dose of mystery to the New Year. 

Rio’s Best Restaurants and Bars by Veja Rio

The latest edition of Veja Rio’s annual list of the best restaurants and bars in Rio de Janeiro, “Comer & Beber”, is now available from most newsstands in Rio or online.

For 2024-25 the selection of the top three in a number of categories includes: 

Asian: Elena, Si-chou, Mr. Lam; 

Brazilian: Ruda, Sud, O Pássaro Verde, Sofia; 

Contemporary: Lasai, Oro, Mesa do Lado; 

French: Casa 201, Signatures, Chez Claude; 

Italian: Grado, Babbo, Padella;  

Japanese: San Omakase, Umai Sushi Vaz; 

Meat: Malta Beef Club, Rufino, Giuseppe Grill;  

Pizza: Ferro e Farinha, Capricciosa,Officina Local; 

Portuguese: Rancho Portugues, Gajos d’Ouro, Quinta da Henriquta; 

Seafood: Satyricon, Ocyá, Escama; 

Vegetarian:Teva, Pura Rio, Espercanca.eco;

Hotel: Gero, Cipriani, Shiso; 

Kiosk: Sel d’Ipanema, QuiQui, Ginga.

Carnival Parade Order in 2025

In 2025 the main parades of the Grupo Especial in Rio de Janeiro’s carnival are scheduled to take place on the nights of Sunday, 2 March; Monday, 3 March; and Tuesday, 4 March. The 12 schools that will parade for the first time over three nights and when are:

Sunday, 2 March 2025

  • Padre Miguel
  • Imperatriz Leopoldinense
  • Viradouro
  • Mangueira

Monday, 3 March 2025

  • Unidos da Tijuca
  • Beija-Flor
  • Salgueiro
  • Vila Isabel

Tuesday, 4 March 2025

  • Mocidade
  • Paraíso do Tuiuti
  • Grande Rio
  • Portela

Extra Night of Rio Samba School Parades From 2025

Big news coming out of Rio de Janeiro in regard to carnival. From 2025 there will now be three nights of the parades of the top Grupo Especial samba schools, with four instead of six schools parading each of the nights.

Unidos de Padre Miguel, champion of Série Ouro, will open the parades on Sunday 2 March, with Unidos da Tijuca, 11th place in Grupo Especial this year, opening Monday, 3 March, and Mocidade, 10th placed in 2024, opening Tuesday, 4 March. The order and day of the other 9 schools will be decided on 23 May.

As a result of Tuesday being used for Grupo Especial, LIESA – Liga Independente das Escolas de Samba is studying the best solution for the parade of the children’s schools that traditionally take place on the Tuesday.

The changes mean at least 75,000 extra people will get to see the parades live and each night will not be such of a marathon for those at the sambódromo or watching on TV.