“New Year’s Resolutions are not new. We’ve been doing it for decades. While some have strong resolves, others might falter along the way”
“So, magpapayat na ba tayo sa 2024?” came the message from a close friend a couple of days ago. I replied back if this would be one of our new goals, or as people say the New Year’s resolutions, for 2024.
We are probably not the only people thinking about what changes we will make in the coming year. We’ve heard people pledging to themselves that they would lose weight, get their finances in order, and leave behind any unsavory habits they have.
Others would promise to take good care of their health, work harder and smarter, or prioritize work-life balance. Some look forward to new experiences and travel to new destinations.
New Year’s Resolutions are not new. We’ve been doing it for decades. While some have strong resolves, others might falter along the way.
Did you know that this tradition of pledging started thousands of years ago in ancient Babylonia?
History has it that the ancient Babylonians were the first people to celebrate the New Year some 4000 years ago. Although, they would celebrate it in March, in time for the planting season.
During the 12-day-long Akitu festival, the Babylonians would crown a new king, or reaffirm their loyalty to the reigning king. They would also make promises to their gods to pay their debts and return any objects they borrowed.
The ancient people believed that the gods would punish them if they didn’t fulfill their promises. But if they kept their word, they would receive some blessings.
In ancient Rome, a similar tradition was practiced. After emperor Julius Caesar established January 1 as the start of the lunar calendar in B.C. 46, the Romans would offer sacrifices to the deity, named Janus, and promise to engage in good conduct in the coming year. They believed that Janus symbolizes looking back to the previous year and looking ahead to the future.
I find it interesting how other cultures do their New Year’s resolutions.
In Brazil, one needs to head to the beach to make resolutions. Dressed in white, the person should go into the water and jump seven waves while making seven wishes. It is said that this tradition pays homage to Yemanja, the goddess of water.
Sharing some history, Colombia and Spain have a similar tradition of making resolutions with little differences.
In Spain, at the stroke of midnight, a person needs to finish eating all 12 grapes before the clock chimes end, or bad luck will haunt the person throughout the new year.
On the other hand, in Colombia, one needs to eat one grape for every chime. For each grape eaten, one has to make a resolution or a wish.
In some countries, people write down their wishes and/or resolutions on a piece of paper at the beginning of the year and carry them throughout the year. On December 31, they would burn their wish paper and make a new one.
In the Philippines, being the unofficial social media capital of the world, we post our resolutions on our Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube, or wherever we fancy.
As for my friend and I, nothing has been set in stone. We would try to lose weight (try as the operative word) until we find a new restaurant we want to try or until our seafood craving kicks in.
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