At New York City's Times Square New Year's Eve celebration, the Times Square Ball descends during the final minute before midnight.
The first ball drop took place on December 31, 1907, replacing fireworks that had been used to mark the opening of the New York Times building. The event became an annual tradition, with interruptions during World War II blackouts in 1942 and 1943.
The illuminated ball has changed substantially. The original was made of iron and wood and lit with incandescent lamps; later versions became larger and more technologically elaborate. The current ball is a geodesic sphere covered with Waterford crystal panels and LED lighting.
The ball does not reach the ground: it travels down a pole on the roof of One Times Square. Crowds and television viewers traditionally count down the final ten seconds together.