turning over a new leaf? - where does this saying come from?

Question

i know what turning over a new leaf means...but i always wondered how and why this saying came about in the first place? anybody out there know the answer?

Answer 1

This is what I found.

Breeze Perspectives: A new leaf for a new school year
New beginnings embodied in peculiar ‘turn’ of phrase
By Traci Cox, contributing writer
Posted on August 28, 2006

“The times, they are a changin’” crooned the infamous eccentric Bob Dylan. And how very observant was he. As we Dukes make the transition from the lazy days of summer to the hustle and bustle of the next 16 weeks, we’re bound to make some pretty poignant promises to ourselves that we probably will fail to keep: “This year, I’m really going to UREC every day — no more midnight breakfasts for me!” or, “I’ll only check my Facebook three times a day so I’ll have more time to print out the slideshows and highlight my syllabus,” and even the occasional “Reading, schmeading … I’m getting in some serious ‘me’ time with my X-Box this semester. Gotta beat my record.” Whatever your personal agenda may be, we all have one thing in common as we return for another exciting fall semester — our slates are empty, excitingly blank, just waiting to be scribbled upon.

You’ve all heard the perennial phrase before: “It’s time to turn over a new leaf.” Where did this ridiculous maxim come from? Expatriate Oscar Wilde was so generous as to leave us with this peppy saying. His anal diary-keeping habits led him to believe each time he turned over a new leaf, or page, he was able to begin something new and exciting in his life. While this explanation is completely sufficient, I prefer my grandfather’s interpretation on the origin of the phrase.

Before books (or clothes) existed, a certain Adam and Eve were known as the rulers of a particular garden. In order to protect their modesty, the first humans fashionably donned leaves to cover their particulars. As potty-training methods were not nearly up to par at this epoch in history, occasionally their leaves became soiled and had to be turned over. Thus, turning over a new leaf was the act preformed when one embarrassingly had a little accident.

My grandfather’s story may be complete crap (pun intended), but the sage in suspenders has a point. We’ve all made mistakes and bad impressions, had less-than-proud moments, and even broken some significant promises to ourselves. Maybe we’ve slightly soiled our reputation or academic career or lifted a leg on something we believed to be falsely superfluous. But this year really can be different. Of course, not all of us have the luxury of being doe-eyed freshmen, but we can certainly take a refreshing look at how we would like to spend our college experience. It truly is priceless.

The academics at our fine institution have very high hopes for us. Professors have been so bold as to call the student body a “world-changing community,” comparing the achievements of Madison students and alumni to that of James Madison’s influential role on the founding of our nation. One of the most essential and moving aspects of this year’s 1787 Orientation was the emphasis on how each of us can “Be The Change.” Surely, in order to fulfill these large shoes the world encourages us to tread in, some serious leaf turning needs to occur. It’s almost fall, and fall means leaves. Falling…turning… leaves…paint a mental picture.

I encourage each person at JMU — whether it be staff, students or faculty — to contemplate their own personal proverbial leaf. Soiled or streak-free, anyone can make a commitment to change. After all, if Adam and Eve were able to redeem themselves from an eternity of damnation, we can certainly make an effort to redeem ourselves from four years of underachievement.

Answer 2

What! I made a joke for you about Freshy & M4rky! I thought I would name it "Miz B's revenge!?" But now I have to think about a new title!