On New Year’s Eve, a large illuminated ball is ceremonially lowered in New York City’s Times Square. The descent lasts about sixty seconds and ends exactly at midnight, when the new year begins.
The first drop occurred in 1907, and the design has changed repeatedly. The current ball is a geodesic sphere covered with Waterford Crystal panels and LED lighting, allowing millions of color combinations and patterns. It is raised to the top of One Times Square before the annual ceremony.
The ball-drop idea came from maritime time balls, which were lowered to signal a precise time to ships and nearby observatories. Times Square’s version became a mass-media event through radio, television, and internet broadcasts. Although the crowd gathers in Manhattan, the countdown is watched worldwide.