Happy New Year!
Please come join me and celebrate the New Year by witnessing the first
of
2026
Celebrating the New Year in Japan means paying special attention to the "first" time something is done in the New Year. Hatsuhinode is the first sunrise of the year. Before sunrise on January 1, people often drive to the coast or climb a mountain so that they can see the first sunrise of the New Year. The real celebration does not begin until sunrise when the traditional meal of vegetables, seafood and dessert is served in one dish - the different types of food symbolizing prosperity.
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In Asia, sunrise celebrations and honoring of the ancestors and elders brings luck.
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Koreans make wishes for the New Year while watching the sunrise. Some wear traditional clothing. Faily members gather early in the morning to remember their ancestors. After the observance, they eat a kind of rice cake soup. Loreans believe that eating this food will add an extra year to their life. After the meal, young people lower their heads to honor their parents and older adults. This means good health and good wishes. Many parents give the children money.
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Vietnamese people get up and put on new clothes at sunrise.
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Mongolians have a tradition to climb the nearest sacred hill or mountain on the first morning of the New Year, offering dishes and burning juniper and incense sticks to welcome the New Year.
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2026 is the year of the Horse. Most people born in the Year of the Horse are often seen as energetic, ambitious, popular, and adventurous, with a natural charisma that attracts others. They are also known for their independence, love of freedom, and loyalty. However, they can also be impulsive, strong-willed, and sometimes stubborn. It represents a life of enthusiasm and adventure, and people born in this year are believed to be strong, adaptable, and quick to embrace new challenges.
Strengths: Cheerful, optimistic, romantic, passionate, and well-spoken; make friends widely, lay emphasis on friendship
Weaknesses: Short-tempered, impatient, more likely to lead a life of pleasure.
Famous Figures Born in the Year of the Horse: Isaac Newton (1643), Theodore Roosevelt (1858), Nelson Mandela (1918), Paul McCartney (1942), Barbra Streisand (1942), Denzel Washington (1954), Jackie Chan (1954), and Mike Tyson (1966).
Lucky things to do/wear on New Year's Day:
Donuts, cakes, cupcakes, you name it: all are lucky on New Year's Day. Circular foods represent "coming full circle."
Luckiest color to wear on New Year's Day:
Red: A Color of Luck and Energy. When it comes to New Year colors, red is often associated with luck, prosperity, and vitality. If you're looking for luck in love, keep the red undies or wear pink. According to media reports, those hoping for happiness and success should wear yellow, and those hoping for financial luck in the new year should wear green underwear.
What not to do on New Year's day for good luck:
Don't Clean the House on New Year's Day! You will wash away any good luck coming your way. So, what better reason to come to the beach!
Plan on being early enough to witness the sunrise. We'll start to gather around 6:45 AM and hang out until about 7:45 AM. The sun rises at 7:24 AM.
Happy New Year everyone!
Bring beach chairs or beach blankets, unless you want to stand the whole time! You may need some bug spray, too.
As far as parking on Tybee. Their gift to you is free parking from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day!
If you're up for turning purple and blue, the Tybee Polar Bear Plunge is today! It is not part of this event, but the details are below in case you want to get adventurous!
January 1, 2026 @ 10:30 am – 1:00 pm EST
Get ready for the 26th Annual Tybee Island Polar Plunge! Dive into the excitement as brave participants take the plunge into the chilly waters of the Atlantic. This beloved tradition brings together locals and visitors for a day of fun and unforgettable memories. It’s the perfect way for the ENTIRE FAMILY to start off the New Year!
January 1, 2026
10:30 AM- Gangs of Goofs Costume Contest and Parade
12:00 PM- Polar Plunge!
(Volunteers will be on the Pier as early as 9:30 AM to hand out t-shirts!)
Tybee Island Pier
https://www.tybeeisland.com/event/tybee-polar-plunge-2026/