The story of a beloved New Year’s Eve tradition
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The Numbers
1907
year of the first ball drop in New York City’s Times Square
32,256 and 2,688
number of lights and crystals, respectively, that cover the ball
Over 1 ton
weight of the confetti released at midnight
More than 1 billion
number of people who watch from home
The Ball
It drops 75 feet. That’s about the height of 4 giraffes.
It weighs 11,875 pounds. That’s about as much as 3 pickup trucks.
Counting Down
How cities across the U.S. have made the tradition their own
Atlanta, Georgia,
drops an 800-pound peach made of foam and fiberglass.
Raleigh, North Carolina,
drops a 10-foot-tall steel and copper acorn.
Las Cruces, New Mexico,
drops a 19-foot-long chrome chile.
Boise, Idaho,
drops a 2,500-pound glowing potato.
Writing Prompt
You’ve been asked to help with your community’s New Year’s Eve celebration. Choose something to drop that represents your community. Write a paragraph explaining your choice.
This article was originally published in the December 2022/January 2023 issue.
