The Babylonians are commonly credited with beginning the tradition of New Year's resolutions.
Accounts of New Year's resolutions often trace the practice to ancient Babylon, where a new year was marked by the Akitu festival. During this spring celebration, people made promises connected with honoring the gods and settling obligations. Returning borrowed objects and paying debts are frequently cited examples.
The Babylonian new year did not begin on January 1 in the modern Gregorian-calendar sense. Its timing was linked to the agricultural and lunar calendar, which is an important distinction when comparing the custom with today's January resolutions.
Later cultures developed their own year-opening promises. Romans associated January with Janus, the god of beginnings and doorways, while some Christian communities adopted religious practices of reflection and commitment. Modern resolutions are therefore a blend of older seasonal customs and later cultural traditions, not a direct unchanged ritual from one ancient society.