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Inside This Issue
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2024 Has Been a Year to Remember!
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’Tis the Season to Swap Cookies
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We Are Here When Things Go Sideways
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Korean Steak Slaw
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Lessons From ‘Little Miss Flint’
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The Evolution of New Year’s Resolutions
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
The Timeless Practice of Starting Fresh THE HISTORY BEHIND NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS EXPLAINED
New Year’s resolutions feel like the norm, right? Every year, we choose something to focus on for the next 12 months to improve ourselves. But where did this start? New Year’s resolutions are a centuries-old tradition, dating back around 4,000 years to ancient Babylon. The Babylonians were among the first recorded cultures to hold celebrations for the new year, although their “new year” began in mid-March with the planting of crops. During this 12-day festival known as Akitu, they made promises to the gods to pay back debts and return anything borrowed. They believed this would bring favor from the gods in the new year. From there, New Year’s resolutions were born as we know them today! The tradition continued with the ancient Romans, who, after changing the calendar in 46 B.C. under Julius Caesar, established Jan. 1 as the beginning of the new year. January was named after Janus, the two- faced Roman god who symbolized beginnings and endings, looking
forward and backward. Romans made sacrifices and promised good conduct to Janus, believing that their behaviors could impact their future. This personal reflection and self-improvement period soon became a prominent theme of New Year’s celebrations. Centuries later, early Christians adopted the tradition and viewed the new year as a chance to reflect on past mistakes and plan for improvement. In 1740, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, introduced the Covenant Renewal Service, a practice held on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day as an alternative to the usual raucous celebrations. Known today as Watch Night services, these gatherings involved praying, reflecting, and making resolutions. Today, our resolutions often revolve around health, relationships, finances, and self-care. Although our promises may have changed in nature, the purpose remains similar — to seek a fresh start and commit to positive changes as we move into a new year!
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