Holidays, fiestas and festivals, whether religious or secular, have a special significance in Latin American culture. Some, like New Years Eve, Easter Christmas, or Semana Santa, are celebrated throughout the continent. Others are country specific. Some of the festivals in South America rank among the best in the world. They are celebrated with much pomp, show, gaiety, dancing and music.

On the New Year's Eve the whole of South America lights up especially Brazil and Chile with a million revelers on Copacabana Beach for one of the largest celebrations in Brazil. The fireworks, concerts, and the religious ceremonies of the Afro-Brazilian Candomblé make New Year's Eve an unforgettable event. In Chile, Valparaíso rings in the new year with fireworks displays rising high above the city's glittering bay for the thousands of visitors who cover up the hills.

Then there are soccer festivals, music festivals, social and religious festivals. Soccer is revered like a religion in South America. Music is passion of the Latin Americans and they must swing and tap when they hear music.

Summer Festivals of South America are very popular. Festivals in South America include most of the Catholic holidays along with other faiths too. On Christmas Eve, families gather for dinner, music and dancing. Other festive holidays include Good Friday and Easter

Carnivals are celebrated with gusto in South America in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. The week before the start of Lent, Mardi Gras is celebrated in many towns in South America the maximum being in Brazil. Rio's incredible party is world famous with action on the streets with the blocos, flatbed trucks with bands and sound systems leading people on a 3-day dance through the streets.