For thousands of years, humans have celebrated the new year. It\u2019s a time to start over \u2013 the ending of one cycle, and the beginning of another. Quite literally, too, though ancient civilizations may not have known it at the time \u2013 every New Year\u2019s Day the Earth is at the place in its orbit that it was at last New Year\u2019s Day, ready to begin the cycle once again.<\/p>\n
Many countries celebrate the new year by setting off fireworks, a festive welcome to the new beginning. Americans set off fireworks too, but as the new year approaches, the first thought in many Americans\u2019 minds when they think of the new year is the ball dropping in New York City. It\u2019s a strange tradition when one thinks of it, but every strange tradition has its origins. So, how did this custom start?<\/p>\n
The dropped ball in Times Square is called a “time ball<\/a>.” Time balls first came about as a way for people to check that whatever they were using to tell the time was correct. The ball would drop at a specified time, and people, specifically sailors, could watch the ball to check that their time-telling device matched up. Time balls were quickly installed in port cities and towns around western Europe and the US.<\/p>\n When the New York Times building was finished in 1904, the first New Year\u2019s celebration<\/a> in Times Square was held, and numerous fireworks were set off. This proved disastrous, however, as ash rained down on the crowd, and subsequently, the city quickly banned fireworks.<\/p>\n