New York City drops a giant illuminated ball in Times Square at midnight on New Year's Eve.
The Times Square Ball tradition began on December 31, 1907, when a lighted ball was lowered from a flagpole atop One Times Square. The first ball was made of iron and wood, measured about five feet across, and was lit with 100 electric bulbs. The event replaced earlier fireworks displays that had become difficult to stage in the crowded district.
The ball has been redesigned several times. Modern versions are covered with Waterford crystal panels and use computer-controlled LEDs. The descent lasts about a minute and ends at midnight, when the new year officially begins in New York's Eastern Time Zone.