Choosing the color of lingerie for New Year’s Eve has become one of the most popular Brazilian New Year’s Eve rituals. Far beyond white clothing worn outdoors, millions of people believe that underwear worn at midnight can influence desires such as love, money, health and emotional balance throughout the new year. Each color carries a symbolic meaning: white is linked to peace, yellow to prosperity, red to passion, pink to love, green to health and blue to tranquility.
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The origin of this custom is linked to the influence of religions of African origin, which popularized the use of white as a symbol of spiritual renewal at the end of the year. Over time, this symbolism was incorporated into the popular imagination and transferred to underwear, creating the idea that the energy of change begins from within. Lingerie then began to function as a personal amulet for the new cycle.
Although strongly associated with Brazil, the tradition is not exclusive to the country. In countries like Italy and Spain, wearing red lingerie on New Year’s Eve is an ancient custom linked to luck and love. In South American countries, such as Argentina, Chile and Peru, other colors are also chosen based on wishes for the following year. The Brazilian difference lies in the variety of meanings attributed to colors and the way in which the ritual has become culturally popular.
Among the most chosen colors are white, a symbol of balance and harmony, yellow, associated with wealth and financial success, and red, linked to passion and energy. Pink represents affection and love, green symbolizes health and renewal, blue is linked to serenity and purple to spirituality and personal transformation. The choice generally reflects what each person wants to attract in the new year.
The strength of this tradition also appears in the figures. Each year, the period leading up to New Year’s Eve sees a significant increase in searches and sales of colorful lingerie. Brands and stores are investing in specific collections for the end of the year, demonstrating that the ritual is no longer just a superstition but has become part of the commercial calendar and the behavior of Brazilian consumers.
Even though the tradition is so deeply rooted, some people prefer to break away from the ritual. Influencer Karol Rosalin, known as the “perfect fitness woman,” says not to wear lingerie on New Year’s Eve as a symbolic gesture of freedom and detachment. For her, the start of the year does not need to be conditioned by a color or a cultural rule.
“I prefer to start the year without lingerie because I feel freer. For me, the energy is not in the color of the piece, but in the way I enter the new cycle, without ties and external expectations,” explains Karol. According to her, the most important thing is to be comfortable with yourself and to think about what you want, regardless of traditional rituals.
The permanence of the tradition of lingerie colors shows to what extent New Year’s Eve continues to be a moment of projection and hope. Whether choosing a specific color or abandoning the ritual, the turning point continues to represent a new beginning. Ultimately, more than lingerie, what crosses the new year is the intention of those who wear it, or decide not to wear it.
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