Rio to Bring in New Year with a Big Kiss: Daily

By William Jones, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Mayor Eduardo Paes visited the main stage of the New Year’s Eve celebrations in front of the famous Copacabana Hotel on Monday, and said that the highlight of the celebrations will be the sixteen minutes of fireworks, during which, at a surprise moment, the expected two million revelers will be invited to kiss to commemorate the beginning of 2014.

New Year’s Eve festivities, or Réveillon as it is locally called, on Rio’s Copacabana Beach will have a movie theme this year, the animated film “Rio 2”. All across Rio de Janeiro this year’s party is set to have some extra energy, as it will mark the 450th anniversary of the city.

During the firework display commencing on the stroke of midnight, accompanied by the soundtrack to the new film Rio, there will be a break in the music and the sound of a kiss will be omitted from speakers scattered along the beach to invite everybody to kiss to bring in 2014.

After the last minute realization that international headliner will.i.am, famed for his work with The Black Eyed Peas, will not be performing, the event organizers were making the best of it. “There is nothing better than sitting next to the person we love and kissing to honor love to them” said Mayor Eduardo Paes. “Actually, the beijaço can be a kiss on the cheek or a hug. It will be a way for people to greet and celebrate the New Year on New Year’s Eve,” he added.

The Secretary of Tourism (RioTur), Antonio Pedro Figueira de Melo, explained that they would not reveal the exact moment that the beijaço (big kiss) will happen. “The fireworks are all set to music and, at a certain moment, the sound will be played and everyone will be able to hear the crack of a kiss, where people will be invited to kiss anyone on your side,” he told O Globo.

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