New York City hosts the annual New Year’s Eve Waterford Crystal Ball Drop in the United States.
The event occurs in Times Square, where a large illuminated ball descends from One Times Square shortly before midnight. Waterford Crystal has supplied crystal panels for the ball since 2000, and the design has been updated over time with new patterns and lighting technology.
The tradition itself began in 1907, when a ball was lowered to signal midnight after fireworks were no longer permitted for the Times Square celebration. The current ball is much larger and more technologically advanced than the original, but the basic countdown ritual remains recognizable.
New York City’s celebration is sometimes confused with the city’s New Year’s Day events or with other American countdowns. The official ball drop is specifically a New Year’s Eve event in Times Square. Large crowds gather behind security barricades, while television audiences watch from around the world.