Confetti is the type of paper traditionally thrown during New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square.
The colorful paper pieces are released at midnight as part of the public celebration. They fall over the crowd and surrounding streets, creating one of the event's most recognizable visual moments. Modern displays may use large pieces of lightweight paper, sometimes printed with messages or wishes from the public.
Confetti has a broader history in festivals, parades, weddings, and sporting celebrations. Its use in Times Square developed alongside the newspaper-sponsored public festivities and became a standard part of the midnight spectacle. The ball drop and confetti release now function as linked symbols of the countdown.
The material is not the same as fireworks: it is lightweight paper, released from buildings and equipment rather than exploding in the sky. Cleanup crews collect substantial quantities afterward, and the city has periodically emphasized recycling and environmental improvements in the celebration's materials.