A New Year’s Tradition That’s Older Than you Think

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Ard

New Year’s Resolutions are much older than we might think.

Arden Booy, Staff Writer

There are plenty of traditions associated with celebrating the new year: parties, parades, and watching the New Year’s Eve ball drop. By this time, plenty of people are also making new year’s resolutions. Most of these resolutions have a theme of self-improvement and are notorious for not always being followed through. But where does this tradition come from and who started it? It’s believed that the practice of setting goals and promises at the beginning of each year actually started with the Babyloninians, nearly 4,000 years ago. They would pledge their loyalty to the current king, promise to pay debt, return borrowed items, and if they kept their promises, the gods would grant them favor. 

Ancient Rome also had a similar practice when the calendar was altered and January 1 became the start of the new year. Romans made sacrifices to the deity that January was named after and made promises for the new year. Although New Year’s and resolutions have religious roots, it’s no longer a religious celebration and resolutions come in all forms. Modern resolutions usually revolve around being healthier, learning more, or trying something new. When asked about their resolutions, Mason Bentliff, a sophomore, said, “I’m trying to work out everyday.” Lizzie Clark, a junior, said, “I want to learn a different country’s flag every day.” Not everyone chooses to make a resolution, but know that if you do, you are partaking in a 4,000 year old tradition. 

 

Sources:

https://www.newsweek.com/new-years-resolution-2022-meaning-origin-ideas-1662947

https://www.history.com/news/the-history-of-new-years-resolutions