Resolutions

The History of New Year’s Resolutions

The celebration of the New Year was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4,000 years ago. Around B.C. 2000, Babylonians celebrated the beginning of a new year on what is now March 23.

January 1 became the beginning of the New Year in B.C. 46, when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that would more accurately reflect the seasons than previous calendars had. The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, a mythical king of early Rome. With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for changes, transitions, and resolutions; Romans sought forgiveness from their enemies and exchanged gifts before the beginning of each new year.

The practice of observing New Years on January 1 fell out of favor in the middle ages and wasn’t revived until the Renaissance.