很多人会在一年之初给自己制定各类计划和目标，对过去曾犯下的错误进行反省，改过自新。人们每在新年之际为来年制定自我提高计划这个概念从何而来？各个国家有哪些相关的习俗和传统？本期随身英语介绍 “新年决心” 的起源，并讲解与 “期许、承诺” 有关的词汇。
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Happy New Year! For many in the UK, if the New Year means anything, it means starting with a clean slate and turning over a new leaf. And to do this, many of us make New Year's resolutions – a list of ways that we intend to improve ourselves in the year ahead. We reflect on our past transgressions and resolve not to do them again. Refraining from smoking is ever popular, as is a vow to take up more exercise or spend more time with family. But where does the idea of a New Year's resolution come from?
The answer might lie 4,000 years ago in ancient Babylonia, according to History.com. The Babylonians are believed to be the first to hold recorded celebrations for the New Year. The 12-day-long celebration, Akitu, allowed them not only to reaffirm their loyalty to the king, or crown a new one, but also to pledge to the gods to pay their debts and return borrowed objects. For their 'good behaviour', they believed the gods would bestow favour upon them for the year to come. If not, there would be divine consequences!
The Romans too had similar traditions. New Year's Day was a time when senators would swear they had upheld the laws and city leaders and soldiers would take an oath of loyalty to the emperor. Incidentally, the month of January, is named after the Roman god Janus. He is the god of beginnings, transitions and time, among other things and is depicted as having two faces – one looking to the past and the other facing forward to the future.
The Romans may be long gone, but their legacy lives on. Come the turn of the year, our eyes turn inwards. We look at self-improvement, review our past mistakes, confess our wrongdoings, seek atonement and try to sharpen up in general. Ultimately, much like the Babylonians and Romans, we seek to reaffirm the best parts of ourselves, while leaving the dross behind.
Whether you're looking at a quick behavioural tweak, or a huge personality overhaul, you're taking part in a tradition that goes back centuries. I wish you all the best sticking to your resolutions. Happy New Year!
vocabulary
a clean slate 从头开始、既往不咎
turn over a new leaf 翻开新篇章，改过自新
resolution 决心
improve 提高、改善
reflect on 反省、回想
transgression 罪过
resolve 下决心
refrain from doing 忍住不…
vow 誓言
legacy 遗产
celebration 庆祝活动
reaffirm 重申
pledge 保证
swear 发誓
take an oath 宣誓、立下誓言
reflect on 反思
iron out the flaws 解决，消除问题，错误
self-improvement 自我提高、自我改善
review 回顾
review past mistakes/flaws 回顾过往的错误
wrongdoing 过错、不当行为
confess our wrongdoing 承认过错
atonement 弥补（过失、过错）
seek atonement 寻求弥补
sharpen up in general 在整体上提高自己
reaffirm the best part of myself 证明自己最好的一面
leave the dross behind 将不好的抛在脑后
look at self-improvement 审视自我提高
bestow favour upon sb. 赐予某人恩惠
divine consequences 神圣的结果
depict v. 描绘，绘画
@表示“来年”：
the year to come
the year ahead
make sentences
A person who is genuinely（真诚地） sorry can be forgiven for their transgression. Just say sorry!
Please refrain from smoking within hospital grounds.
Young man, I suggest you go to your room and reflect on your bad behaviour!
If you give me one more chance, I promise I'll turn over a new leaf.
Thank you all for coming to my wedding. It's a celebration of our love for each other.
question
What distinguishing physical feature does the Roman god Janus have?
answer
Janus（两面神） has two faces - one looking to the past and the other facing forward to the future.
