What's the origin of having New Year's resolutions?

Every year as the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, millions of people around the world vow to make changes in their lives. We call them New Year's resolutions, and they have been a tradition for centuries. But where did this practice come from?

The Ancient Babylonians

The modern-day practice of making resolutions is thought to have originated back in ancient Babylon. At that time, Babylonians would make promises to the gods during an 11-day festival at the start of each new year. The most popular promise was to “return borrowed objects and pay off debts.”

This custom was designed to secure favor with the gods and ensure that their new year would be filled with plenty of good fortune.

Romans and Medieval Europe

The tradition spread throughout Europe thanks to the Roman Empire, who made offerings and sacrifices to Janus—the two-faced god of beginnings and endings—on January 1st. This holiday was later embraced by medieval European Christians who made vows at church services on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day in order to start off the new year on a moral path toward redemption.

These vows would often include commitments such as being kinder or giving up habits like gluttony or gossiping. Even today, many churches still conduct special services at midnight on December 31st as a way to bid farewell to old habits and welcome in new ones for the following year.

Modern Times

Today, we use resolutions as a way to reflect on our past experiences and plan for our future successes—much in the same way our ancestors did thousands of years ago! We might not all be promising favors from gods anymore, but it's safe to say that many of us are still trying our best every January 1st to be better versions of ourselves than we were before; whether it be losing weight, practicing mindfulness, learning a new skill, or simply treating others with kindness and respect.

So why not continue this ancient tradition by signing up for those online classes you've always wanted to take or finally making an appointment with your doctor? After all, it is said that when you make plans for your future success, success will follow!