History of the New Year's Resolution

Sunday, December 31, 2006

The first day of the year is one of the world’s oldest holidays. According to historians, Babylonians have been celebrating the new year over 4000 years ago. This ancient civilization has been credited by some to have originated an annual tradition that still prevails: the New Year’s Resolution.

The 23rd of March was considered the first day of the Babylonian calendar, and a common resolution by the people was the practise of returning items borrowed over the course of the past year to their rightful owners. Typically these were household items such as farming equipment.

The Romans continued to observe the new year in late March. However, as a result of tampering by various emperors, the calendar soon became out of synch with the sun. In order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January 1 to be the first day of the year.

It was not until Julius Caesar established the Julian Calendar in 46 BC that the calendar was finally back in synch with the sun. The first month of the calendar was named in honour of the mythical figure Janus, the God of All Beginnings. Janus was a symbol of beginnings and endings, whose two faces allowed him to both look forward and backward in time. A common resolution in ancient Rome was to seek forgiveness from enemies of previous years.

Today, health-related resolutions top contemporary New Year’s resolutions. Many pledge to lose weight, exercise more, and quit smoking. A close second are financial resolutions that include plans to increase savings, conquer debt, and avoid excessive spending. Rounding out the list of today’s common resolutions are those pertaining to relationships, including making amends with friends and family, practising more patience with coworkers, and striving towards better communication with others.

Now, if only today’s resolutions were as simple as returning a borrowed item, many more would proudly claim to have followed through on a resolution. However, though those who succeed remain small in number, they are nevertheless an inspiration to all and this keeps the tradition of the New Year’s Resolution alive.