It’s that time of year again! New Year’s Eve is Just Around the Corner
Close to 2 million people are expected to celebrate New Year’s Eve in New York City’s Time Square to welcome 2019. With millions more tuning in at home, this will certainly be an event to remember. At Remke, we love watching the ball drop every year and enjoy providing our readers with a few fun facts surrounding this unique tradition. Here are 5 things you may not know about the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop!
The Tradition is Rooted in the Mid-1800s
One of the earliest time-balls took place in 1833 at the Flamsteed House of the Greenwich Observatory along the River Thames. Starting in 1833, it was lowered every day at exactly 1 p.m. to signal the time to sailors and Londoners who could not afford clock and watches.
Time Square has Been Dropping Balls Since 1907
New Year’s Eve has been celebrated in Times Square as early as 1904, but it was in 1907 that the NYE Ball made its initial descent from a flagpole on top Times Square (1942 and 1943 are the only exceptions).
The NYE Ball has had a Few Upgrades
Seven different versions of the Ball have been designed to signal the New Year since 1907, with the current Waterford Crystal NYE Ball (built in 2016) thought to be the largest crystal ball in the world. For the first 87 years of ball’s history, it was actually lowered by hand! The ball drop is now time electronically using an atomic clock out of Colorado.
“Wish-Fetti” is a Thing Now
Started in 2017, “Wish-Fetti” will be released when the ball drops. People all over the globe submitted their wishes for 2019 online or in person, and those paper wishes will serve as the confetti that fills the sky as the clock strikes midnight.
Balls Aren’t the Only Thing Dropped on NYE
Cities around the United States have received inspiration from the Manhattan Ball Drop but have gotten a bit creative with their celebrations. Here are a few fun examples:
- Mount Olive, North Carolina drops a pickle.
- Raleigh, North Carolina drops a giant acorn.
- Easton, Maryland drops a giant crab.
- Temecula, California drops a bushel of grapes.
- Las Cruces, New Mexico drops a giant chili pepper
- Indianapolis, Indiana strings up an actual racing car and drops it down on NYE!
Read more about the actual mechanics behind the NYE ball drop here and look for more great news from Remke in 2019! Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday!
