A New Years Resolution

Have you ever wondered why some people have a new resolution every year? A new year's resolution is a personal goal to attain growth in aspects of your life, to improve or do better than the year before. How did that become part of our traditions to mark the new year?

Some 4,000 years ago, ancient Babylonians held the Akītu Festival, during which people would make promises to their gods and take time to return borrowed items. This was also a time where the Babylonians elected a new king or proclaimed loyalty to their current king. The new year back then was most likely a springtime transition starting in March or April. The Babylonians lived in a mostly trade based economy, and they used this time as a moment of rest. Keeping their promises to their gods was said to bring good fortune.  

In 46 BC Julius Caesar marked January 1, the new year. In the time of the Roman Empire, people didn’t have many forms of communication making it difficult to know what day it was. As you can imagine that made it hard to plan events or anything that would need to follow a specific schedule. Julius Caesar invented what was called the Julian calendar. The name January comes from the Roman god Janus, a god of new beginnings. The same idea from the Babylonians was adapted by Caesar, and the Romans offered goods and sacrifices to Janus, as well as making promises of improvement. 

Next, the concept was again adapted by another religion: Christianity. Early Christians used the first day of the new year to reflect upon mistakes they had made in the past, so as to improve. 

People today focus on making a new years resolution to themselves that focuses on self improvement, diverting away from ancient practices of sacrifice and offerings. Only 8 to 10% of the 40% of Americans that have a resolution go on to achieve their goal. Maybe you can be a part of that 10% of people who improve this year!