Did You Know?
Though it might not be home to as many celebrants as Australia and the United States, the tiny Pacific island nation of Kiribati will be the first country to ring in the new year in 2022. This small nation beats New Zealand’s Chatham Islands to the punch by 15 minutes. When Kiribati is welcoming the new year, it will only be 5 a.m. on December 31 in New York City. The uninhabited atoll Baker Island and the uninhabited coral island Howland Island are the last places to welcome 2022. These tiny islands do so seven hours after the ball drops in New York City’s Times Square.