Скачать или смотреть How did January get its name? Meet the Roman god, Janus.

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In 46 BCE, Julius Caesar reformed the calendar to start the year in January, named after Janus, the two-faced god of beginnings and endings. Romans made offerings to Janus and pledged moral improvements, such as being kinder or more honest. Janus’ symbolic dual gaze—one face looking back at the past, the other forward to the future—embodied the reflective spirit of New Year’s resolutions.

As Christianity spread, the focus of resolutions shifted. By the Middle Ages, New Year’s vows often took on a spiritual tone, with people reflecting on their sins and committing to live more piously. Enter the Puritans of the 17th century, who embraced the reflective aspect of New Year’s but shunned the raucous celebrations. For them, the holiday was a sober occasion for self-examination and vows to avoid debauchery, which they saw as a corruption of moral values. Unlike the ancient Babylonians or Romans, the Puritans viewed revelry and indulgence as spiritual failures rather than community bonding.

Fast forward to modern times, and New Year’s resolutions have become less about pleasing gods or avoiding eternal damnation and more about personal development. Surveys suggest that the most common resolutions involve health, finances, relationships, and hobbies. Despite the optimistic start to each year, the struggle to stick with these goals is universal. Studies show that about 80% of resolutions fail by February. Whether it’s the siren call of chocolate cake or the irresistible snooze button, even the most determined among us find it challenging to maintain resolve.

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