Editing New Year's resolution (section)

==Religious origins==
Around 2000 B.C., the [[Babylonia|Babylonians]] celebrated the New Year during a 12-day festival called [[Akitu]] (starting with the vernal equinox). This was the start of the farming season to plant crops, crown their king, and make promises to return borrowed farm equipment and pay their debts.<ref>
{{Cite web |url=https://www.history.com/news/the-history-of-new-years-resolutions/|title= The history of new years resolutions |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=<!--Not stated--> |website=History.com|access-date=2023-01-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite book
|author=Lennox, Doug
|title=Now You Know Big Book of Answers one of the amazing thing
|publisher=Dundurn
|location=Toronto
|year=2007
|page=250
|isbn=978-1-55002-741-9
}}</ref>

The Babylonian New Year was adopted by the [[Ancient Rome|ancient Romans]], as was the tradition of resolutions. The timing, however, eventually shifted with the Julian calendar in 46 B.C., which declared January 1st as the start of the new year and began each year by making promises to the god [[Janus]], for whom the month of January is named.<ref>{{cite book
|author=Julia Jasmine
|title=Multicultural Holidays
|publisher=Teacher Created Resources
|year=1998
|page=116
|isbn=1-55734-615-1
}}</ref>

In the [[medieval era]], the [[knight]]s took the "[[Les Voeux du paon|peacock vow]]" at the end of the [[Christmastide|Christmas season]] each year to re-affirm their commitment to [[chivalry]].<ref name="Lennox">{{cite book
|author=Lennox, Doug
|title=Now You Know Big Book of Answers
|publisher=Dundurn
|location=Toronto
|year=2007
|page=250
|isbn=978-1-55002-741-9
}}
</ref>

At [[watchnight service]]s, many [[Christians]] prepare for the year ahead by praying and making these resolutions.<ref name="Ritchie">{{cite book|author=James Ewing Ritchie|url = https://archive.org/details/religiouslifelo00ritcgoog |page=[https://archive.org/details/religiouslifelo00ritcgoog/page/n238 223]| title = The Religious Life of London|year=1870|publisher = [[Tinsley Brothers]]|access-date = 2011-12-28}}</ref> In [[Methodism|Methodist Christianity]], the liturgy used for the watchnight service for the New Year is the [[Covenant Service|Covenant Renewal Service]]; in addition to being traditionally held on New Year's Eve, many churches offer the Covenant Renewal Service on both New Year's Eve and on the morning of New Year's Day.<ref>{{cite web |title=Watch Night Service |url=https://www.umc.org/en/content/watch-night-service |publisher=[[The United Methodist Church]] |access-date=1 January 2021 |language=en |date=15 October 2013}}</ref>

This tradition has many other religious parallels. During Judaism's New Year, [[Rosh Hashanah]], through the [[High Holy Days]] and culminating in [[Yom Kippur]] (the Day of Atonement), one is to reflect upon one's wrongdoings over the year and both seek and offer forgiveness. People can act similarly during the [[Christianity|Christian]] liturgical season of [[Lent]], although the motive behind this holiday is more of sacrifice than of responsibility.<ref name=" Ritchie"/>{{Verify source|date=January 2017}} The concept, regardless of creed, is to reflect upon [[self-improvement]] annually.