The Gregorian calendar, decreed by Pope Gregory XIII, becomes effective in all the Catholic countries of Europe with the day after Thursday October 4, 1582 becoming Friday, 15 October 1582.
The Spanish and Portuguese colonies followed somewhat later because of delay in communication. The Gregorian calendar is now widely used around the world. With the exception of Ethiopia, Nepal, Iran and Afghanistan, the Gregorian calendar is now the world's universal civil calendar, old style calendars remaining in use in religious or traditional contexts. More