When did we start making New Year’s resolutions? Can we keep them?

The New Year is nearly upon us. And with that, millions across the world will make their New Year’s resolutions. Among these will be some old favourites – from working out to losing weight, improving finances and getting a new job, But where did this tradition start? And do they really last? Let’s take a closer look: Ancient Babylonians, Romans Making New Year’s resolutions isn’t a 21st Century development. In fact, according to The Conversation, most ancient cultures would follow this practice at the beginning of the year. https://youtu.be/LL3fRFo6Gzg?t=3 Records show that the ancient Babylonians were the first to do so around 4,000 years ago. In fact, for the Babylonians, the New Year began sometime around mid-March. They associated their New Year’s resolutions with religion, mythology, power, and socioeconomic values.

The Babylonians, during their 12-day festival Akitu, would push statues through the streets and conduct rites to celebrate their victory over chaos.

“During this festival people planted crops, pledged their allegiance to the reigning king or crowned a new king, and made promises to repay debts in the year ahead. The Babylonians believed if they fulfilled their new year promises, then the Gods would look favourably upon them in the new year,” as per The Conversation. The ancient Romans then took over this tradition from the Babylonians. They, in fact, celebrated the New Year even later than the Babylonians. The date? A familiar one known to many – the Ides of March. The date was loaded with meaning – consults took office on that day and the festival of the Italian goddess of the New Year was also marked on 15 March. Enter Ceasar Things changed in 46 BC. As per CNET,  the year, known as the ‘longest in history’, had lasted a massive 455 days.

Julius Ceasar – yes, that one – introduced the Julian Calendar by fiat.

He declared that 1 January would henceforth be the start of the New Year and also added an extra day every four years to keep the calendar working properly. January would be named in homage to the ancient Roman deity Janus – a two-faced god that could look both into the New Year and back into the previous year. The Middle Ages then saw the Julian Calendar fall out of favour amid the calendar being unable to keep proper time. At this time, it is thought that medieval knights would recommit to their code of chivalry by placing their hands on a peacock or pheasant. In 1582, Pope Gregorian would implement the Gregorian calendar – what we use to this day – and most societies would simply continue celebrating New Year on 1 January. What about New Year’s resolutions? Do people keep them? The term ‘New Year Resolution’ itself would first appear in a Boston newspaper in 1813, as per Merriam Webster. “And yet, I believe there are multitudes of people, accustomed to receive injunctions of new year resolutions, who will sin all the month of December, with a serious determination of beginning the new year with new resolutions and new behaviour, and with the full belief that they shall thus expiate and wipe away all their former faults,” the article stated as per History.com.

These days, New Year’s resolutions no longer have a religious flavour.

Instead of vowing to the gods, people make promises to themselves. A Forbes Health/OnePoll survey found the most common New Year’s resolution goals are:

• Improved fitness (48 per cent)
• Improved finances (38 per cent)
• Improved mental health (36 per cent)
• Lose weight (34p per cent)
• Improved diet (32 per cent)

Travelling more (six per cent) meditating regularly ( five per cent), drinking less ( three per cent) and performing better at work ( three per cent) were among the less popular resolutions. People also aren’t able to keep their resolutions. As per History.com, a recent survey of US citizens showed that just eight per cent of those polled manage to do so. This, despite nearly half of people polled – 45 per cent – admitting to making such resolutions. The outlet pegs the average New Year’s resolution as lasting around 3.74 months_._ With inputs from agencies