new years eve on the beach in brazil

Although Matt and I bailed on attending the party, we still found the traditions interesting-- dressing in white, eating a very large feast, then going down to the beach with everyone else who was there, and either viewing or setting off fireworks, and (at least some people) throwing flowers into the ocean for the goddess Yemanja (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1310/is_1991_August-Sept/ai_11322122/pg_1), of Yoruba origin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemaja). These pictures are from New Year's day, 2008, early in the morning on the beach near Ubatuba, Sao Paulo state, Brazil.