New York City’s New Year’s Eve celebration is famous for dropping a lighted ball in Times Square.
The ball descends from a flagpole atop One Times Square during the final minute before midnight. Millions of people watch the event in person or through international television broadcasts, making it one of the world’s best-known New Year rituals.
The tradition began in 1907, when the first ball was lowered to welcome 1908. It replaced earlier fireworks celebrations organized by The New York Times after the newspaper’s headquarters moved to the area. The event has continued despite wartime interruptions and changing ball designs.
The modern ball is a geodesic sphere covered with Waterford Crystal panels and illuminated by thousands of LEDs. Although it is often called the “ball drop,” the ceremony is formally part of the broader Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration, which also includes performances and confetti.