Every Dec. 31, throngs of revelers eager to ring in a new year crowd into New York City's Times Square. In the final minute of the year, as the clock ticks away seconds toward midnight, an opulent, oversized ball descends from above — and when it reaches its destination the crowd cheers, Happy New Year!
The New Year's ball drop has its roots in naval history, inspired by the Time Balls — introduced in the early 1800s. These devices were affixed to towers in coastal towns and would drop a ball at a precise moment of the day to alert nearby ship captains when to precisely set their navigational tools, called chronometers. In 1833, the Astronomer Royal, John Pond, set up a Time Ball at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. The current New Year's tradition is a particularly American affair, and the Times Square ball drop has inspired numerous imitators across the United States, and even around the world. Here are some of the most surprising things people drop to ring in the new year.
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