A lot of people will be heading into NYC for New Year’s Eve tomorrow to see the ball drop in Times Square. But before they had the ball the celebration was a bit different.
They used to use fireworks to celebrate the new year, which to be honest seems dangerous in the middle of a big city. Eventually they realized this and banned but the firework displays because the burning embers were falling on the crowd. Probably a smart move.
In 1907 they came up with the idea of a giant ball being lowered on a flagpole because it sounded much safer. It’s been that way ever since.
Image credit: REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz