Why do we drop a ball on New Years Eve? The Times Square tradition, explained
News Source : NPR
News Summary
- The Times Square ball drop has been a fixture of New Year's Eve since 1907, when the original wood and iron orb made its maiden journey
- The ball has been lowered every year — except 1942 and 1943, due to lighting restrictions during World War II
- It's even inspired offshoots around the U
- S
- , with various cities dropping everything from a giant pine cone and an oversize pickle to a monster-sized Moon Pie
On the evening of Dec. 31, as in many years past, millions of people around the world will stop what theyre doing to watch a 12foot, 11,875pound crystal ball slowly descend a New York City flagpol [+6563 chars]
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