As many of us start to think about our New Year's
resolutions (or breaking them), we may not realize that the tradition of
making promises on the first day of the year is a custom started by our
Roman ancestors.
"Rome's highest officials made a resolution to
remain loyal to the republic and swore oaths to
the Emperor on 1st January," said Professor
Richard Alston, from the Department of
Classics at Royal Holloway University.
"A grand ceremony marked the occasion, where
the Roman legions would parade and sacrifices
were made on the Capitoline Hill. This annual
event renewed the bonds between citizens, the
state and the gods."
New Year's Day offered all Roman citizens an
opportunity to reflect on the past and look to
the year ahead. People would exchange sweet
fruits and honey, greet each other with blessings for the coming year and
the courts only worked in the mornings, so they had a half day holiday.
"On 1 January, our Roman ancestors celebrated Janus, the god of new
beginnings who had two faces -- one looking into the past and another
looking to the future," Professor Alston added. "Janus represented doors
and thresholds and the Romans named the month of January in his honour.
"Janus also symbolized the values of home, family, friendship and
civilization, and the doors of his temple were closed when Rome was at
peace and thrown open in times of war, as if the god was no longer
present. Just like we do today, we also know that the Romans celebrated
a mid-winter festival in which they met with friends, exchanges gifts and
had a good time before the start of the year ahead.



SOURCE: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/12/131230191042.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29

So, what u are trying to say is that nobody plans ahead of the new year except the Roman People abi, what about the Oyo Empire, the Shangai Kingdom, the Red Indians, the Greeks etc, they don't have their own new year resolution before the Roman Empire abi?.. All this ones na wash

Davefirst: So, what u are trying to say is that nobody plans ahead of the new year except the Roman People abi, what about the Oyo Empire, the Shangai Kingdom, the Red Indians, the Greeks etc, they don't have their own new year resolution before the Roman Empire abi?.. All this ones na wash

lolzzzzx.......no doubt u must be a yoruba dude!..... where's the evidence that oyo empire did such in ancient times....... and if they did..... it won't ve been before the Roman Empire........ When Roman Empire started new year resolution, Oyo Empire has not even comprehend couting of days and identifying different seasons.