Everyone knows what New Year’s resolutions are, but not many know the history behind them.
New Year’s resolutions are believed to have originated about 4,000 years ago from the ancient Babylonians. They held a 12-day religious festival called Akitu, where they would make promises to their gods. If they kept these promises, they would be in good favor with the gods.
Ancient Romans also had somewhat similar practices. They would make sacrifices and promises of good conduct to the two-faced god Janus, who could look back into the past and forward into the future.
New Year’s resolutions have changed from making promises to gods to making promises to ourselves. Most people who make resolutions are making promises and goals to better themselves.
