New York City’s Times Square celebration features a ball descending during the midnight countdown. The illuminated Times Square Ball is lowered from a flagpole at One Times Square as the final seconds of December 31 pass.
The tradition began in 1907, when the first New Year’s Eve ball was lowered at the building then known as the Times Tower. The early ball was made of iron and wood and decorated with electric lights. It replaced earlier forms of public signaling used to mark the hour.
Modern versions have changed substantially. The current ball is covered with Waterford Crystal panels and lit with LEDs, allowing elaborate color patterns and designs. It is raised before the celebration and lowered for the final minute, reaching the base at midnight.
The Times Square event is often casually called a “ball drop,” but the object is not a spherical clock or a globe. It is a purpose-built time ball inspired by older time balls used to communicate exact time to ships and city residents. The annual event is broadcast internationally.