New Year's Eve may be a worldwide celebration, but nowhere does it quite like Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This isn't surprising, given that the city is also synonymous with carnaval, the biggest party on earth. New Year's Eve, or Reveillon (from the French word), centres around the African religion of Umbanda, which worships the goddess Iemanjá, or Queen of the Ocean.

Every year over a million Cariocas flock to Rio's beaches to make offerings to Iemanjá. These offerings are usually flowers, but may also be small amounts of money, makeup, jewellery, or floating candles. Wearing white, silver or light blue, Rio's inhabitants drink and dance the night away, well beyond the stroke of midnight when fireworks explode along the coast. The largest party is found on Copacabana beach, with smaller, but equally raucous events spilling over into the beaches of Impanema and Leblon.

Other countries in Latin America have equally unique celebrations. In Venezuela, they emphasize traditions that will bring luck in the coming year. Those who want to find love in the New Year must wear red underwear on New Year's Eve, and those looking for money must carry a bill of high value when they toast.

Mexicans, meanwhile, eat a grape each time the clock bell chimes at twelve, making a wish with each chime. Like Venezuela, the traditions are similar to those of Spain, bringing prosperity for the coming year.

While Ecuador also celebrates with similar traditions to Spain, Ecuadorians put a twist on New Year's Eve by creating elaborate effigies called Años Viejos (Old Years). These effigies represent events and people from the past year, usually a political character with whom the maker disagrees. Made from straw or newspaper, and old clothes, and paper maché masks, the effigies are stuffed with firecrackers and lit ablaze to celebrate getting rid of the old and making way for the new.

If you're looking to celebrate New Year's in Latin America, as with anywhere else it is wise to book in advance. Many hotels offer New Year's Eve packages, with a few nights' stay plus tickets to a New Year's Eve party. While some of these can be great deals, make sure you do your research. Many of the best New Year's Eve parties in Latin America take place outside in the town square, or on the beach, for free.