Why do we make resolutions at New Year?

As New Year’s Eve rolls around, you might find people start asking you what your resolutions are for the coming year. It’s a tradition that we’ve grown used to but where did it come from and why are resolutions so important?

Well, the custom of making New Year’s resolutions started thousands of years ago, but while these days we might decide that we want to join the gym or learn a new skill, the resolutions of yesteryear were very different.

New Year Resolutions were first popularised by the ancient Babylonians who were also the same people who started honouring the new year, though back then, it was celebrated in the spring time when they planted their crops. As part of their Akitu festival which saw in the new year, the Babylonians would make promises to their gods to pay their debts and return any objects they had borrowed from their neighbours. These promises are what we now know as resolutions. If they kept their words, their gods would bestow favour on them, much like how we believe that if we keep to our resolutions, we will have a good year.

The practise was also used by the Romans who would make sacrifices to the God Janus with promises of being good for the coming year. Later, early Christians made the New Year a time for reflection when they would think back on their past mistakes and resolve to do better in the new year.

Something similar also took place during the Middle Ages — at the end of every year, Knights would have to renew their vows and promise to continue to be chivalrous in the coming year. The promise had to be made while placing your hand on a peacock — live or roasted, your choice. The vow was known as the annual Peacock Vow

These days, resolutions aren’t seen as being a religious practice or requiring a peacock and are instead a way to encourage selfimprovement. New Year’s Resolutions as we know them were commonplace by the 17th century.

One record, found in the diary of Anne Halkett, a Scottish writer, said: “I will not offend anymore.”

The most popular modern day resolutions include: Exercise more Drink less alcohol Quit smoking Learn a new skill Lose weight Find a new job Volunteer Read more Save more money

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