What is the traditional New Year's Eve midnight kiss in New York City's Times Square exchanged beneath?

The traditional New Year's Eve midnight kiss in New York City's Times Square is exchanged beneath the Times Square Ball. As the illuminated ball descends, couples and crowds gather to mark the start of the new year.

The ball-drop ceremony began in 1907, replacing the fireworks used for Times Square's first New Year's celebration. The original ball was made of iron and wood and was illuminated with 100 light bulbs; later versions used increasingly advanced materials and lighting.

The modern ball is a geodesic sphere covered with Waterford Crystal panels and illuminated by LEDs. The ball is lowered from One Times Square, the building historically associated with The New York Times. The kiss is a popular custom, not a formal part of the ceremony.