New York City’s New Year’s Eve celebration is known for the descent of a lit Waterford Crystal ball.
The Times Square Ball is lowered from One Times Square during the final minute of December 31. Waterford Crystal has supplied or helped create major versions of the ball since 2000, adding annual designs to its crystal panels as part of a long-running partnership.
The ball-drop tradition began in 1907, when an illuminated ball replaced a fireworks display at Times Square. The modern ball is far larger and more technologically complex than the original, using many crystal panels and thousands of LED lights.
The Waterford name identifies the crystal-maker partnership, not the city where the celebration occurs. Waterford is a city in Ireland, and the company’s crystal products are used worldwide. The event itself takes place in New York City’s Manhattan district.