From Ancient Babylon to Times Square
Marking the New Year Through the Ages
Diet & Exercise, financial responsibility and personal development— these are some of the most common New Year’s resolutions. On January 1st, 2026, gyms across the nation will fill with those aspiring to turn a new leaf, and you might even run into a familiar face in the supermarket’s organic foods section. The promise of a fresh start after the stress from the previous year drives millions to reset their habits and intentions.
As the new year approaches and we make strides towards personal growth, maybe you’ve stopped to wonder where the tradition began.
Ancient Babylon
Dating back to around 2,000 B.C., the ancient Babylonians were the first known civilization to make New Year’s resolutions and to hold recorded celebrations honoring the arrival of a new year. Their tradition centered on a twelve-day festival called Akitu, during which members of the community made promises to their Gods. These vows often involved moral and social commitments, such as repaying old debts or returning borrowed items. If these promises were kept, the Gods were believed to bestow favor in the year ahead; failure to fulfill them, however, risked divine punishment—may the Gods have mercy on that poor soul.
For the Babylonian’s, the first month of the year fell in March or April, coinciding with the spring equinox. This month, known as Nisannu, marked a time of agricultural renewal, when crops were planted and prayers were offered for a bountiful harvest. The Akitu festival was celebrated in two locations within the city of Babylon: the Esagila, a temple dedicated to the supreme God Marduk, and the “House of the New Year” on the city's northern side. During Akitu, the God Nabû and his father Marduk were worshipped with their statues paraded throughout the city. This multi-day festival served as a ritual to honor the Gods, renew cosmic order, and reaffirm the king’s divine right to reign over the empire.
When in Rome
Roughly 2,000 years later, in 46 B.C., Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar, establishing January 1st as the beginning of the new year in honor of Janus, the god of beginnings and transitions. Janus was portrayed with two faces, allowing him to look back at the past and forward to the future. On New Year’s Day, ancient Romans made sacrifices to him in hopes of securing favor for the year ahead. With the help of astronomer Sosigenes, the calendar was reformed to follow the solar year (365.25 days), laying the foundation for today’s Gregorian calendar.
The Romans established their own traditions, which included visiting neighbors to exchange gifts known as strenae or "good luck presents". These gifts often consisted of small tokens of affection, such as figs and honey. Grand feasts were organized, and music and dancing filled the streets. Romans also made promises to treat one another better, much like the New Year’s resolutions we recognize today. They believed the way the first day of the year was spent set the tone for the remaining eleven months. Needless to say, the day was devoted largely to leisure.
Prior to New Year’s Day, Romans celebrated the winter festival of Saturnalia. Beginning on December 17 and ending on the 23rd, this week-long celebration marked the end of the winter sowing season and honored Saturn, the god of agriculture. It was the liveliest festival of the year. All work was suspended, slaves were temporarily freed to do as they pleased, and social inhibitions dissolved amid nonstop feasting and public intoxication.
This sense of revelry led to a lot of public kissing and other forms of affection. These kisses were more than drunken mishaps—they were believed to symbolize good luck for the coming year. Later, in medieval Europe, the tradition evolved through masquerade balls where party goers unmasked themselves at the stroke of midnight and shared a kiss which was believed to cleanse and secure good fortune for the remainder of the year.
Puritan America
Following the medieval period, these traditions crossed the Atlantic into Colonial America. Though the Puritans strongly disparaged the debauchery that their ancestors once enjoyed, they still marked the turning of the year through quiet reflection on the past and the year to come. In doing so, they continued the tradition of making resolutions that focused on more spiritual values such as avoiding sin and engaging in charity work.
The Modern Age
By the 19th century, New Year’s resolutions had become increasingly secular in nature. Rather than engaging solely in somber reflection among fellow churchgoers, widespread public celebration began to take hold. Public parties, grand illuminations, and clock-oriented countdowns shifted the tone of the holiday from moral to merry.
Across centuries and cultures, the rituals may have changed, but the underlying purpose has remained the same: to pause, reflect, and begin again with intention. So whether it’s learning a new language or aiming to be a little more responsible with your finances, the idea of a fresh start—coupled with the desire to better oneself—isn’t just a modern fad, but a tradition as old as time itself.
What are your goals for 2026?
