Welcome to 2026 — we’re officially leaving 2025 in the rearview mirror of time. Last night was a great night. My wife and I packed in as many Brazilian New Year traditions as two determined humans possibly can.
You can take a look at my previous post on Brazilian traditions here
We started with a delicious traditional dinner that she made, panqueca with beef, rice, farofa, and bread. After dinner, we headed to the beach — and yes, we absolutely wore our colors to bring in the new year. Here’s a picture of my beautiful wife on the sand, tossing flowers into the ocean along with her wishes for 2026.
The surf was wild this year, so we skipped jumping the seven waves. Apparently, there were around 600 rescues throughout the day at Copacabana Beach, so I feel pretty good about our decision to stay upright and alive. This was a very mild view of the actual waves. It also reminds me of a Seinfeld episode, with George as the marine biologist. “The sea was angry that day, my friends…”
Here’s a picture of the two of us. I think we can all agree I got the better end of this deal. My head kind of resembles a champagne cork, but somehow I still got lucky with her.
After the flower‑tossing ceremony, we headed up to the roof of our building with champagne and snacks to welcome the new year. Of course, no year goes out quietly — and ours definitely didn’t. We had hoped this end of the building would stay calm, and it did… until about 11:30 pm, when Mateo arrived.
Mateo is one of those kids who is loud by default. Within minutes, he had single‑handedly raised the noise level to “airport runway,” drowning out the other five kids who decided it was the perfect moment to jump into the pool in their underwear. Around this time, I found myself wanting to play a new game called “Let’s Guess How Long Mateo Can Hold His Breath.” The crowd kept growing in what I had hoped would be our peaceful little corner — but no such luck.
Still, it was fantastic. You can see from the pictures: all of this was happening at Copacabana Beach. To put it in perspective, we were at least five miles away on the 19th floor, and the fireworks still looked massive. It’s the largest New Year’s celebration in the world, with the biggest fireworks display — and it did not disappoint. Quite the show, and I’m pretty sure there were over a million people on the beach for the event.
There is just something about Brazil — the people, the energy, the feeling of the place — that’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. This year brought another “first of firsts,” and it reminded me again why this country feels so special. People here simply seem happier. They live in the moment, they find joy in the everyday, and they make the best of things no matter the circumstances. They know how to have fun, how to celebrate life, and how to squeeze meaning out of even the smallest moments.
For me, living here has been an incredible life experience, one I’m deeply grateful for. Having the opportunity to call this place home. It has changed me in ways I never expected — and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Finally, with all that said, we wish you a happy and healthy 2026. There will be bumps — there always are — but try to keep your eyes on the good stuff. The rough moments eventually pack their bags and move on; they always do. Here’s to a year of health, prosperity, laughter, and just enough chaos to keep life interesting.
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