In yesterday’s post, I reflected on how a neuroscientist describes the way making resolutions harnesses our brain’s power of self-reflection.
In a related article, NPR correspondent Rachel Treisman reminds readers that New Year’s resolutions are far from a modern gimmick. The tradition stretches back “several thousand years.” For many people today, pledging to “upgrade your life” on Jan. 1 feels as essential to the holiday as the Times Square ball drop or a midnight toast.
Treisman also notes that one of the earliest appearances of the phrase “New Year’s resolutions” was in a Boston newspaper in 1813, according to Merriam-Webster, evidence that the practice was already familiar by the early 19th century.
Below is the key highlights of Treisman‘s NPR article, condensed with AI writing tools:
New Year’s History in the U.S.
Resolutions didn’t emerge with modern New Year’s parties. The word “resolution” entered the English language in the late 1300s and gradually evolved to mean a firm intention about future behavior. Long before Americans were ringing in the new year, individuals were making personal pledges, such as 17th-century English writer Anne Halkett’s Bible-inspired list simply titled “Resolutions.”
An anonymous 1813 Boston newspaper editorial captured both the hope and skepticism surrounding the tradition:
And yet, I believe there are multitudes of people, accustomed to receive injunctions of new year resolutions, who will sin all the month of December, with a serious determination of beginning the new year with new resolutions and new behaviour, and with the full belief that they shall thus expiate and wipe away all their former faults — Unknown, 1813
– Boston Newspaper 1813, (via Merriam-Webster)
Historians trace the practice back even further. In ancient Babylon, people made promises during the 12-day Akitu festival, often tied to returning borrowed tools or repaying debts. In ancient Rome, January 1 honored Janus, the two-faced god of beginnings and endings, with vows and offerings meant to mark a fresh start.
In the U.S., New Year’s itself didn’t become a widely celebrated holiday until the 20th century. As it grew more culturally central, secular resolution-making took hold.
What Prof. McCrossen says about resolutions
Historian and Prof. Alexis McCrossen explains that New Year’s resolutions endure because they are rooted in an ancient idea: making promises at meaningful moments in time. In ancient Rome, January 1 was dedicated to Janus, the god of beginnings and endings, and marked with vows and offerings. That connection matters, McCrossen notes, because a resolution is, at its core, a promise.
For much of early American history, however, January 1 wasn’t a major celebration. Instead, it served as a practical reset—a day to settle debts and close accounts. Even without fanfare, people still used the date to mark fresh starts.
According to McCrossen, New Year’s gained its symbolic power as celebrations clustered around midnight and the turning of the calendar, transforming resolutions into a shared cultural ritual rather than a purely personal one.
He also reminds readers that self-reflection doesn’t have to wait for January 1. “Each day, one could do that,” he says. Still, he acknowledges the unique energy of the new year, when people collectively try to begin again. He even suggests using New Year’s Day to reconnect with others, seeing resolutions not just as self-improvement goals, but as opportunities to strengthen community.
How Resolutions Have Changed
As the tradition evolved in the U.S., the tone of resolutions shifted. Early 1900s newspaper examples ranged from humorous contradictions—like resolving “to stay at home more, and to go out more”, to sincere attempts at habit change. During World War I, resolutions even took on patriotic themes, such as conserving food or buying war bonds.
Over time, religious motivations faded, replaced by a focus on self-improvement. A 1947 Gallup poll found Americans resolving to “improve my character” or “stop smoking,” alongside early health-focused goals like getting more sleep.
Today, resolutions tend to emphasize personal wellbeing over spiritual renewal, reflecting broader cultural shifts toward individual goals.
Treisman concludes by noting that the urge to reflect and set intentions isn’t exclusive to Jan. 1. People can choose to start fresh any day. Still, the new year offers something special, a shared pause that invites people to imagine who they want to become next. That communal sense of renewal is what keeps the tradition alive.
Acknowledgement: This summary was generated using AI writing tools as part of my experimental learning process. For more information, check out the original NPR article.