The History of New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s resolutions—a practice where individuals set goals or make promises to improve their lives in the upcoming year—have a rich and varied history spanning thousands of years. While the concept of self-improvement at the start of a new year feels modern, its origins are deeply rooted in ancient civilizations and religious traditions.

Origins of New Year’s Resolutions

The tradition of making promises at the start of a new year can be traced back over 4,000 years to the Babylonians. During their 12-day festival, Akitu, held in mid-March to coincide with the spring harvest, they made vows to their gods to repay debts and return borrowed items. Success in fulfilling these promises was believed to curry favor with the deities.

When Julius Caesar reformed the Roman calendar and established January 1 as the start of the new year, the practice took on a more formal tone. January was named after Janus, the two-faced Roman god of beginnings and endings. Romans offered sacrifices to Janus and made promises of good behavior for the coming year, reflecting on the past and looking forward to the future.

By the Middle Ages, the focus shifted to religious observances. In early          Christianity, the first day of the year was often a time of prayer, reflection,  and making pious resolutions. One of the most interesting New Year’s traditions was the “Peacock Vow”. Christian Knights would reaffirm their commitment to chivalry at the end of the Christmas season and vow good behavior and chivalric deeds during the coming year. The vow was taken while eating roast Peacock at a New Year’s celebration.

In the 17th century, Puritans made revolutions that focused on spiritual and moral improvement. Common resolutions included commitments to avoid pride and vanity, practice charity and liberality, refrain from revenge, control anger, speak no evil of others, and live a life aligned with religious principles. They also resolved to study scriptures diligently, improve religious devotion weekly and renewed their dedication to God.

In 1740, John Wesley, founder of Methodism, created the Covenant Renewal Service, held on New Year’s Eve or Day. These gatherings encouraged reflection on the past year and resolutions for spiritual growth.

The first known use of the phrase “New Year’s Resolution” was in a Boston newspaper, Walker’s Hibernian Magazine, in 1813.  The article humorously discussed people breaking their New Year’s vows almost as soon as they made them.  It would appear nothing much has changed over the last 221 years.

The Modern Evolution of New Year’s Resolutions

The secularization of New Year’s resolutions began in the 19th and 20th centuries, with self-improvement and personal growth taking precedence over religious vows. The rise of print media helped popularize the practice, with newspapers and magazines publishing advice on how to set and achieve goals. By the 21st century, resolutions were firmly embedded in Western culture as a tradition of hope and renewal.

Common New Year’s Resolutions

Resolutions tend to reflect cultural priorities and individual aspirations. A survey of common resolutions reveals recurring themes:

Health and Fitness:

  • Lose weight
    • Exercise more
    • Eat healthier

Personal Development:

  • Learn a new skill
    • Read more books
    • Manage time better

Financial Goals:

  • Save money
    • Pay off debts
    • Stick to a budget

Relationships and Community:

  • Spend more time with family and friends
    • Volunteer or give back to the community

Breaking Bad Habits:

  • Quit smoking
    • Reduce alcohol consumption
    • Limit screen time

The Success Rate of Resolutions

Despite their popularity, New Year’s resolutions are notoriously hard to keep. Studies estimate that about 80% of resolutions fail by February, often due to overly ambitious goals or lack of specific planning. However, setting realistic, measurable, and time-bound goals (e.g., SMART goals) can improve success rates.  It seems that most people approach their New Year’s resolutions more for fun than with any anticipation that they will be kept.

The Significance of Resolutions Today

New Year’s resolutions persist because they align with a universal desire for self-improvement and fresh starts. Whether rooted in ancient traditions or modern goal-setting frameworks, they represent a belief in the potential for change, even if it takes a bit of effort to achieve.

My personal New Year’s resolution is to increase The Grumpy Doc’s subscribers to 50. Then I’ll only need 9950 more to be able to attract advertisers.  $$$$$

Sources:

  • History.com on New Year’s Resolutions
  • Britannica on Janus and Roman traditions
  •  Anthony Aveni, “The Book of New Year’s Traditions”
  •  “Why Do We Count Down to the New Year?” Smithsonian Magazine
  • Kaila Curry, “The Ancient History of New Year’s Resolutions”
  • Joshua O’Driscoll, “The Peacock Vows”, excerpted in Archive Culture’s Digest