The Times Square Ball begins its descent at 11:59 p.m. on New Year's Eve in New York City.
The descent lasts 60 seconds and ends at midnight, marking the start of the new calendar year. The illuminated ball is lowered from a flagpole atop One Times Square while crowds gather in Times Square and millions more watch remotely.
The tradition began on December 31, 1907, when the first ball was lowered to signal the New Year. That original ball was made of iron and wood and decorated with electric lights. The event was suspended during World War II blackouts in 1942 and 1943, when the midnight celebration continued without the illuminated ball.
Modern versions have changed size and design, but the timing remains the same. The ball does not drop precisely at midnight: it starts one minute earlier so that its completed descent coincides with 12:00 a.m.