New Year's Day is celebrated immediately after the New Year's Eve ball drop in New York City's Times Square. It begins on January 1, the first day of the Gregorian calendar year.
The Times Square ball descends during the final minute of December 31 and reaches the bottom at midnight, marking the transition into New Year's Day. Crowds then celebrate with cheers, confetti, music, and greetings. The public event is commonly called the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration, but the calendar date after midnight is January 1.
New Year's Day is a public holiday in many countries, although customs differ widely. The Gregorian calendar was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 and gradually became the civil calendar used internationally. Some cultures observe additional New Year dates based on lunar or lunisolar calendars, so January 1 is not the only New Year celebration worldwide.