The Times Square Ball has descended in Times Square, New York City, since 1907.
The first ball drop was organized by newspaper publisher Adolph Ochs to celebrate the opening of the New York Times headquarters at One Times Square. That original ball was made of iron and wood, decorated with electric lights, and measured about 5 feet (1.5 meters) across.
The event continued after the first celebration, although the ball was not lowered in 1942 or 1943 because World War II blackout rules prohibited the customary lights. Revelers observed midnight with a minute of silence instead.
Modern versions are much larger and more elaborate. The current ball is covered with Waterford crystal panels and is raised to the top of One Times Square before its one-minute descent. The phrase “ball drop” refers to this descent, not to a ball being thrown.