A ball descends at midnight during New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square. The illuminated object drops from One Times Square during the final minute of December 31 and reaches the bottom as the new year begins.
The tradition started in 1907, when the New York Times organized a public celebration after fireworks were restricted in the area. The first ball was comparatively simple, but later versions incorporated electric lights, colored panels, and increasingly advanced control systems.
The present ball is a geodesic sphere covered with Waterford Crystal triangles and LED lighting. Its design allows changing colors and patterns during the ceremony. The ball is raised well before the event and remains a year-round feature at One Times Square.
The Times Square object is sometimes confused with the illuminated ball used in other countdowns, but the New York ceremony has its own continuous history and recognizable descent. The phrase “ball drop” specifically refers to this timed lowering.