Before we know it the year 2002 will be upon us. The New Year is a time
when people reflect on the past year and think about the year ahead. This is
why we make resolutions, but what exactly is a resolution? How did
resolutions come to be?
The Beginning
Before resolutions there has to be a history of New Year's celebrations.
About 4,000 years ago the ancient Babylonians were the first people to
observe the oldest holiday ever. The Babylonian New Year, around 2000 BC,
started out with the first New Moon after the Vernal Equinox, also known as
the first day of spring. The people saw this as the perfect time to start
the New Year, because spring is the time of blooming and rebirth.
The Romans celebrated New Year's in late March. As the years went by
Roman emperors would change their calendar. Eventually the calendar came out
of sync with the sun. Then in 153 BC the Roman senate announced January 1 as
the New Year. Finally in 46 BC Julius Caesar established the Julian
Calendar, which put January 1 again as the new year, but that previous year
was 445 days to make it in sync with the sun. For the past 400 years January
1 has been the celebration of the New Year by Western nations.
The Origin of the Resolution
There is no exact date, but the resolution began with the Babylonians.
Theirs were to return borrowed farm equipment, as a way of a reminder.
As the years went on resolutions became different. People make
resolutions to look back on the past year and to think about the future.
Resolutions are a motive for change, whether it's to stop smoking or even to
relax more. Babylonians believed that on the first day of the New Year,
whatever a person does will make an effect on the entire year.
Originally in Rome at 153 BC, a mythical king was to sit in front of a
calendar. Janus, a woman with two faces, could see back in the past and into
the future. She was the symbol for resolutions. The people sought
forgiveness from their enemies through her. They also gave gifts before the
start of a New Year.
Keeping with Tradition
According to ABCNEWS.com the #1 resolution is to start exercising. When
a person says they want to break a bad habit the most common answer is to
quit an addiction, especially nicotine. There are three reasons why we keep
resolutions: 1) The spirit in which the resolution was made, 2) The kind of
resolution made, and 3) The potential benefit of keeping the resolution.
Here are three tips to be successful with your resolutions: 1) Make the
commitment and stick to it, whatever the cost, 2) Be realistic in what your
goals are, and 3) Decide if the pain is worth the effort.
Resolutions are also made for behavioral or cognitive changes in a
person's life. If you make resolutions or not, think about the past year and
all the accomplishments that you've made, and look forward to an exciting
2002. Happy New Year!
Do you know the words to the popular song "Auld Lang Syne"? The Scotch song
translated is called "old long ago," or, "the good old days." In the 1700's
the song was half written by Robert Burns, but not published until 1796.
Here are the lyrics so you can sing to them at the stroke of midnight to ring
in the New Year.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?
And here's a hand, my trusty friend
And gie's a hand o' thine
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
