New Year’s can be considered a global phenomenon since most nations celebrate it, and New York is no exception. Notably, New York’s New Year’s event features the famous Times Square Ball Drop celebration that attracts thousands yearly. Its history and traditions make it a special annual celebration.
Continue reading to learn more about the history of New York’s ball drop.
History & Times Square
The first ball drop occurred over a century ago in Times Square, which was created and organized by the former New York Times owner. The official Times Square Ball website states the newspaper’s owner at the time, Alfred Ochs, acquired the Times and relocated it to Longacre Square. They add that he “successfully lobbied the city to rename Longacre Square to Times Square” since this was the publication’s new location. Ochs celebrated this success by commemorating the opening of the new headquarters with an extravagant “party of the ages.” Although the first New Year’s celebration was held in Times Square in 1904, the first ball drop was in 1907.
Lowering the Ball Origin
The lowering of the ball originates from an older sailing practice of the 1800s that notified ship captains about the time of day. The New York Times, a daily news site, states that “the lowering ritual began in 1833 at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England.” They add that “a ball is lowered daily at 1 p.m., originally to help ship captains nearby synchronize their chronometers.” This practice was briefly popular before personal clocks and watches became cheaper and widely available. The Times’ New Year’s celebration adopted the ritual yet continues the passage and pinpoints a moment in time. Likewise, the ball has undergone numerous changes as technology advances, making for memorable iterations.
Modern Iterations (1995-)
The ball remained mostly the same until the 90s when it was upgraded to be more extravagant and colorful. In 1995, the ball was upgraded with computer controls, halogen lamps, and strobes nicknamed the “glitter ball.” This began a more intricate ball with a unique flare that could display any image or color like a kaleidoscope. On the 100th anniversary of the ball drop, it was updated with Philips LED lights since it could replicate millions of patterns and colors. Moreover, the ball will continue the legacy of ushering in a new year with a memorable tradition that has continued for over a century.
Happy New Year!
The history of New York’s New Year’s celebration spans over a century that has kept celebrating a new beginning. The out-of-date sailing practices have ironically made a timeless New Year celebration that tells the present passage of time. Ultimately, the celebration of the new year will continue to evolve with time and ambition for a new beginning.
For more about holiday’s, community, art, and gaming, visit the rest of FerryGodmother.com.
Happy New Year!