What is the name of the ball that drops in Times Square on New Year's Eve?
Answer
Times Square Ball
The ball that drops in Times Square on New Year’s Eve is called the Times Square Ball.
The ball descends from the roof of One Times Square during the final minute of the year, beginning at 11:59 p.m. and reaching the bottom at midnight. Its descent signals the start of the new year and has become one of the most recognisable New Year’s Eve traditions in the United States.
The tradition began with the first ball drop on December 31, 1907, welcoming 1908. The event was organised by New York Times owner Adolph Ochs after the newspaper had staged fireworks at its headquarters. The ball was inspired by maritime time balls, which were once dropped to help ships set accurate clocks.
“Crystal ball” is a common but misleading answer. The modern ball has featured Waterford crystal panels, but its formal name is the Times Square Ball. The Waterford association describes its materials and design, not the object’s canonical name.