HOUGHTON — This coming Monday, January 1st as the clock strikes 12 midnight, many Keweenaw Peninsula area residents will dine upon special foods, offer beverage toasts, along with kisses, hugs, and well wishes to family and friends. Also possible, a few households will shoot off fireworks.

Across America, the glowing celebratory ball will drop at New York City’s Times Square, in Boise, Idaho a giant potato will descend, in Atlanta, Georgia a massive peach, in Memphis, Tennessee a guitar, and in Port Clinton, Ohio a frozen walleye fish will drop.

Research from the History Channel states the celebration of the new year can be traced back some 4,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. This is when the first full moon occurs, in late March, offering equal amounts of daylight and darkness. This time period was called Akitu, the victory of the sky god Marduk over the evil sea goddess, Tiamat.

During the Roman empire the calendar originally consisted of ten months or 304 days. When Julius Caesar’s reign occurred, the calendar was revised to begin on January 1st in honor of the Roman god, Janus, who had the ability to look back into the past and look forward into the future.

By the medieval period, in Europe, January 1st offered a tradition to reflect on one’s past mistakes and resolving to do better in the future.

In 1740 English clergyman, Jogn Wesley (founder of Methodism) established a New Year’s Eve practice offering a formal church service with readings, hymns, and prayers versus what he called, “raucous celebrations.”

On establishing resolutions, a recent Good Housekeeping magazine article stated, starting small with resolutions offers a sensible base – helping to relieve stress, minimize anxiety, and improve your overall well-being.

Good Housekeeping cited the following top ten recommended resolutions:

•Start a gratitude journal.

•Make time for family.

•Build a better budget.

•Practice mindfulness

•Cook something new each week.

•Read more books.

•Create a cleaning schedule you’ll stick to

•Drink less alcohol.

•Make dinner easier.

•Commit to a healthier sleep routine.

This past October Forbes Health conducted research on New Year’s resolutions amongst 1,000 households. For 2024 the top-of-mind resolution was on fitness while their 2022 research offered a top-of-mind focus on mental health.

Their research noted, of those surveyed 62 percent felt pressured to establish resolutions. Women were at a slightly higher percentage than men in establishing resolutions. Across the Atlantic Ocean, in Sweden, their percentage establishing a resolution was just under 14 percent.

In regard to mental and physical health, Forbes Health stated 55 percent were set at equal importance.

Overall, 80 percent of the respondents felt they had the ability to reach their goals with men were slightly higher than women.

In addition, Forbes Health research noted 59 percent of young adults ages 18 to 34 years, stated they plan to establish goals. While parents with kids at home stood at 54 percent and those without children at home at 33 percent.

Overall, Forbes Health research listed the following top five 2024 resolutions:

•Improve fitness.

•Improve finances.

•Improve mental health.

•Lose Weight

•Improve diet.

•Stop smoking, improving work-life balance, and mediate regularly closely followed these five goals.

Finally, Forbes Health research shows the average resolution adherence tends to last 3.74 months. In addition, organized groups have established January 17th as “Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day” and January’s second Friday as “Quitter’s Day.”

A reminder from Good Housekeeping’s research, resolutions are made to build a healthy and happy life,

You now have a few days to establish your list.

Jeffrey D. Brasie is a retired health care CEO. He frequently writes historic feature stories and op-eds for various Michigan newspapers. As a Vietnam-era veteran, he served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Naval Reserve. He served on the public affairs staff of the secretary of the Navy. He grew up near the tip of the mitt and resides in suburban Detroit.