Making New Year’s resolutions is a tradition that almost everyone has participated in at one time or other. In fact, statistically speaking, about 45% of Americans claim to make resolutions every January 1. While only 8% are successful at keeping them, the practice continues to be a part of the cultural conversation as we approach the end of one year and beginning of another.
History
The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions dates back to ancient Babylonia where, 4000 years ago, they were among the first people to celebrate the turn of the year. Even though their celebrations were more likely in the spring of the year, rather than in the dead of winter, they did observe a 12 day religious festival during which they made renewed promises of fealty to their king and their gods. Many years later in Rome, in 46 B.C.E., Julius Caesar established January 1 as the beginning of the new year. The month of January, is named after janus, the Roman god of two faces, who significantly looked backwards into the old year, as well as forward into the future. With the arrival of Christianity, early Christians adopted New Years as a time to take stock of past mistakes and vow to do better in the year ahead. Some Christian traditions even created watch night services as a way to formalize the concept of renewal for the year to come. These days, New Years celebrations are largely secular, but resolution making has continued to play a large role as we contemplate new beginnings.
Other New Years Observances
While the western world celebrates the New Year of the calendar on January 1, keep in mind that the Chinese have their own New Years tradition which is tied to the distinct Chinese lunar calendar. In 2022, Chinese New Year begins on February 1. This tradition dates back to the Shang Dynasty and is filled with its own distinct celebrations and rituals.
In the Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah is one of the holiest of days and marks the new year in the Jewish calendar.
Types of Resolutions
Most resolutions seem to involve adding something to your life, which can be challenging to stick with unless you have a strategy for how you are going to incorporate the resolution into your existing life. Some resolutions involve adapting new habits, which takes regular and frequent repetition before you reach a threshold of the new behavior being automatic. Consider reading a book in preparation of your resolution adoption: Atomic Habits by James Clear, The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg, or Rewire: Change your Brain by Richard O’Connor, are just three of many excellent books on the market that might inspire you in how to approach your resolution.
Feel like you need to make a resolution but don’t know what part of your life needs a facelift? Most resolutions center around the following categories:
- Health
- Love
- Career
- Finance
- Education
To start, just pick one area that you want to focus on. In a few months, once you have that new habit established, then it might be time to look at something else. But if you overwhelm yourself with too many resolutions at once, chances are you will not follow through on any of them. Start small, and continue making new resolutions throughout the year, building confidence and success as you go.
Alternative traditions in lieu of resolutions
There are plenty of other ways to mark the new year with other fun traditions that do not involve formal resolutions.
- Eat 12 grapes at midnight for good luck (tradition from Spain)
- Set an intention/make a wish (vision)
- Make a toast at midnight
- Making some extra noise and extra light. Ever wonder why we have noise makers or set off fireworks on New Years? Around the globe, extra noise and light are a favorite addition to New Year’s observances. Perhaps we are chasing out the old year with the noise, and ushering in the new year by lighting the path forward
- Partake of traditional New Year’s foods from around the world
- Hoppin John and Collard Greens in the American Southern tradition)
- Pork and cabbage (sauerkraut) German and Eastern Europe tradition
- Lentils (Italian)
Will your story for 2022 start with F.C.Tucker Emge REALTORS®?
Here at F.C. Tucker Emge REALTORS®, our wish for the New Year is to provide excellent service to all of our home buyers and sellers. It is our intention to make sure that we help you accomplish your homeownership goals and provide you with knowledge and tools to make that possible. We also continue our resolve of arming our agents with superior training and support so that they can be more successful in helping you. Whether you are looking to make a housing change in the coming year or are resolved to finding a new career, Let’s Talk!
