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The New Year was seen as a time of reflection and promises by the Romans to lead a better life. Sacrifices and offerings to the gods, and Janus in particular, would be made. It was also seen as a time of forgiveness and mistook one perhaps made with others would be reconciled during the Near Year, making it a time of renewal.<ref>For more on early New Year celebrations and resolutions in ancient societies, see: Aveni, Anthony F. 2003. <i>The Book of the Year: A Brief History of Our Seasonal Holidays</i>. Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press.</ref>
====When were New Years 's Resolutions during the Middle Agesrevived in Western Europe?====In the early Medieval period, celebrating the New Year was not as common , and, in fact, celebrations were probably subdued. However, by the late Medieval period and early the first Modern period, the clergy did ask their congregation to use the New Year as is a time of reflection and to correct mistakes of the past to live a better, less sinful life. Knights would also renew promises by making vows to live a chivalrous life. The Methodists, in the 18th century under John Wesley, made did a special service for New Year, called the Covenant Renewal. This included prayer and hymns , where congregants would renew their commitment to God and each other. However, secular celebrations of New Year did become increasingly common in the 18th century. In fact, it It was the secular celebrations of New Year that prompted the Methodists and other Protestant churches to commit to New Year services as a way to start the New Year. This tradition still continues in many Protestant and non-Protestant denominations today.<ref>For more on New Year resolutions in the Medieval and early Early Modern period, see: Cole, Jennifer. 2007.<i> Ceremonies of the Seasons: Exploring and Celebrating Nature’s Eternal Cycle</i>. London; New York: Duncan Baird ; Distributed in the USA and Canada by Sterling.</ref>
====Later Developments====
