As the clocks strike 12 on the eve of December 31, the entire world will begin anew. Everyone will get another fresh start, a new chance to grow, try new things and be a better version of themselves. But have you ever stopped to wonder why is it that January 1 is viewed as the start of a year? Have you ever thought about where traditions like New Year’s resolutions come from? Well, we may have the answer to these questions!
New Year 2025: Why Is January 1 Celebrated As The New Year?
The very first time that January 1 was celebrated as a new year can be traced all the way back to 45 BCE! The infamous Roman king Julius Caesar decreed that the calendar should have the first month dedicated to Janus, the Roman god of beginnings.
Hence, January was added as the first month and January 1 became the marker of the new year. In the Roman calendar, that is. The rest of the world did not warm up to it until the mid-16th century CE. That is when Pope Gregory XIII standardised January 1 as the start of the year and the rest of the Christian world accepted.
From there, the Gregorian calendar spread slowly yet steadily throughout the world making it the universal standard. Now, the entire world celebrates January 1 as the official marker of the next year.
Why We Make Resolutions At The Start Of Every Year
Understandably, the celebration of the new year has given rise to a number of traditions related to it, one of the most famous ones being New Year’s resolution. There is historical evidence that in the olden days, ancient Romans made promises to Janus at the start of the year.
These were mainly pertaining to religious aspects, often about how one would improve themselves spiritually. Now, however, New Year’s resolutions have become quite secular and instead of making promises to deities, people make resolutions to themselves.
Also Read: UAE 2025 Holidays: From New Year To Ramadan, The List Of Predicted And Confirmed Dates Is Here!
Have you made any resolutions for the coming year? Do you like to party hard on NYE or keep it lowkey? Let us know in the comments section below!
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