Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future: The Evolution of New Years’ Resolutions
- Admin
- Apr 2
- 3 min read
By: Riya Malpani
The tradition of New Year’s resolutions dates back to ancient civilizations. The Babylonians are often credited with starting the tradition around 4,000 years ago. They would celebrate the New Year during a festival called Akitu, which occurred in March and marked the beginning of the agricultural season. During this time, the Babylonians made promises to their gods to pay their debts and return borrowed items, hoping for good favor in the coming year. The Babylonians also prayed to the moon god Sin (Suen) for guidance and protection, seeking his favor in matters of fertility, wisdom, and prosperity. As the keeper of cattle and crops, Sin was believed to influence both the land’s abundance and the well-being of the people. In their prayers, they would ask for his blessings in ensuring healthy livestock, successful harvests, and the wisdom needed to navigate the coming year.
In many ways, their rituals mirrored the cyclical rhythms of the moon, with resolutions serving as a kind of inner harvest—where intentions were planted and growth hoped for in the year ahead. This connection between the moon’s phases and the rituals of renewal is a beautiful reminder that like the waxing and waning of the moon, we too go through cycles of growth, rest, and rebirth in our lives.
Similarly, the ancient Romans also had their own version of New Year’s resolutions. During the festival of Janus, held in honor of the god of beginnings and transitions, they would make promises to improve their behavior in the coming year. Janus, depicted with two faces, symbolized looking back on the past year and forward to the new one, and people would offer sacrifices and vows of good deeds to seek favor and blessings for the year ahead.
By the 18th century, the practice of making New Year’s resolutions had become more secular, with people simply resolving to live better, more disciplined lives. The tradition spread through Western culture, and by the 20th century, New Year’s resolutions had become a common tradition worldwide. Today, making resolutions for the new year remains a widespread practice, albeit often with mixed success.
Arabella Crofton ‘28 - “My New Year’s resolution is to work on time management because I have a lot of extracurriculars and I want to work on basing my time off preplanned breaks.”
Samanatha Heck ‘27 - “My New Year’s resolution is to be a kinder and more time-wise person. I want to treat others better and have the time to relax.”
Nia Gitau '25 - “I want to be more intentional about spending time with family and friends.”
Audrey Hong ‘27 - “My New Year’s resolution is to sleep more and manage my time more wisely.”
Austen Fiala ‘28 - “I want to put more focus into what I'm passionate about learning, right now I’m learning German and I want to spend more time learning it.”
Mame Somuah ‘27 - “My New Year’s resolution is to be more active and more conscious of the food I eat.”
New Year’s resolutions can be incredibly beneficial by providing a clear sense of purpose and direction for the year ahead. By setting specific goals, whether they involve improving health, learning new skills, or breaking bad habits, resolutions push us to focus on personal growth and positive change. This clarity can help us prioritize what truly matters in life.
Additionally, the process of setting goals fosters a sense of accountability, whether through self-reflection or sharing our intentions with friends and family. This external support can boost our motivation and keep us committed, especially when faced with challenges.
Beyond goal-setting, New Year’s resolutions can bring significant benefits to both individuals and the broader community. When people set goals for self-improvement, such as focusing on health, learning new skills, or engaging in acts of kindness, these efforts often have a positive ripple effect.
As individuals make progress, they can inspire others to pursue their own goals, creating an environment of shared motivation and mutual support. The act of setting resolutions can also foster a sense of accountability, encouraging people to stick with their commitments and celebrate progress together.
Works cited:
Comments