The Ancient Origins of New Year’s Resolutions and How the Tradition Has Changed
The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions dates back over 4,000 years to ancient Babylon, where people celebrated the start of their new year in mid-March during the Akitu festival. They made promises to their gods to pay debts and return borrowed items, believing this would bring favor in the coming year[1][2][5]. The Romans later adopted this practice, aligning the start of the new year with January 1 to honor Janus, the two-faced god of beginnings and endings[1][2][5]. Over time, the focus shifted from religious commitments to personal improvement, reflecting humanity’s timeless desire for self-improvement and renewal[2][5]. Today, common resolutions include improving health, managing finances, and spending more time with family, but statistics show that only a small percentage of people stick to their resolutions[1][2][5]. The tradition continues to inspire hope and optimism for personal growth.
