Babylonian Akitu: Vows to gods
Origins trace to ancient Mesopotamia’s Akitu festival, 3,000-4,000 years ago in Babylon (modern Iraq, 55 miles south of Baghdad). Held March-April per the lunar calendar, marking the spring equinox and barley harvest, it celebrated god Marduk’s mythic victory over chaos monster Tiamat, slaying her to form heavens and earth from her body, per the Enuma Elish epic.
Crowds gathered for 12-day rituals lauding creation and fertility. Babylonians made first resolutions: pledging debts repaid, borrowed farm tools returned to appease temperamental deities, ensuring cosmic order over chaos for a prosperous year.
Roman positive omens and oaths
Romans adopted a similar “start as you mean to go on” mindset, documented in Ovid’s first-century “Fasti”, a poetic Roman calendar of festivals. Exchanged figs, honey, dates symbolizing abundance; performed light work for a productive omen. Highest officials swore loyalty oaths to the emperor, the republic in the Janus temple on January 1, the god of beginnings honored with strenae gifts.
Puritan renewal and colonial roots
17th-18th century New England Puritans rejected raucous revelry for solemn reflection. John Wesley founded Methodism’s 1740 Covenant Renewal Service: night vigils, hymns, vows amid the First Great Awakening revival. Theologian Jonathan Edwards penned 70 exhaustive resolutions like “avoid gossip,” “treat kindly,” “never gluttony”; a personal piety blueprint influencing American self-improvement.
Irish swept homes clean for luck; Latin America’s Año Viejo burns life-size dolls stuffed with the year’s woes at midnight.
Secular satire and modern failures
The phrase gained traction in 19th-century newspapers. Walker’s Hibernian Magazine in 1802 satirized insincere vows with statesmen claiming to “prioritize country.” A 1813 Boston paper first used the full phrase, mocking December’s sins redeemed by January’s “expiation.” By 1893, Yenowine’s News listed humorous Milwaukee pledges, like avoiding the city altogether.
The 20th century shifted it toward secular goals like fitness and diets, away from sin. Yet studies show 64% fail by February; a timeless urge for fresh starts endures across eras.
Also read: Weird New Year customs worldwide
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