Why a crystal ball falls in Times Square on New Year's Eve: what to expect in 2020

At the last second of the old year, a bright crystal ball descends on a flagpole in Times Square in New York. This moment is broadcasted by many TV channels in the world, for the Americans it symbolizes the coming of the New Year, as for the inhabitants of Russia it symbolizes the chiming clock on the Kremlin tower. Where did this tradition come from? "Voice of America".

The falling of the ball is not a special New Year's rite. This is a modified and modernized maritime tradition. For sailors, knowing the exact time was a matter of life and death. Without knowing the time, it would be impossible to accurately orient oneself in space, and any navigational error is fraught with countless sad consequences. Therefore, all the maritime powers did everything possible to equip their ships with the most accurate reliable watches, chronometers.

However, during his time at sea, under the action of pitching, heat, cold, and moisture, any chronometer began to hurry or fall behind. Hours should be checked regularly. In the laboratory it was difficult to do. It was even more difficult to ensure that the captain and the navigators could verify the clock without landing on the shore.

A cannon shot was not suitable for this. The cannon and the ship could have separated a considerable distance, and the speed of sound was relatively small, so the chronometer error inevitably reached several seconds. That is why the ball drop technology was invented.

She was born in a country that was the ruler of the seas - England. One of these balls was located on a turret in the Greenwinch laboratory. The captain of the ship, who was close to the tower, exactly at noon, looked through his telescope and noted the fall of the ball on his chronometer.

On the subject: Crystal ball in Times Square: how it has changed since 1907 and what it is today

In Times Square, the ball began to fall from 1907 onwards. A ball with a diameter of almost 4 meters each year is made anew, so that it is as beautiful and bright as possible. In some cities in the United States, New Year is celebrated with the help of its own falling balls.

Atlanta, Georgia, uses a giant copy of a peach instead of a ball, Raleigh, North Carolina uses a 900-pound brass acorn, and Strasbourg, Pennsylvania uses a ping-pong ball.

What will happen this year

The famous New Year's Eve in Times Square is not only a New York tradition, it is a global phenomenon. Approximately a million people come to the United States to witness one of the best events, writes Time-out... But this year things will be different.

We answer the main questions about how we will see off 2020 in Times Square.

Will the ball fall?

Yes. But this year, the Times Square party will be smaller due to social distancing. Rather than greet 2021 with a crowd, the celebration will feature "an extremely limited group of socially distanced laureates who will reflect the themes, concerns and inspirations of 2020." The event will be streamed online.

On the subject: 10 secrets of a crystal ball in Times Square

When does the Times Square party start?

Everything starts on Thursday, December 31st at 18:00 pm.

Who will be performing and what will be seen during New Year's Eve in Times Square?

The New Years Eve Ball will begin at 18:00 pm and will feature a New Years countdown, live music performances, special guests and a press of the Waterford Crystal button that launches the ball at midnight.

Where can you see the show?

The Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment usually broadcast the New Years celebrations online. You can watch it live at Times SquareNYC.org, Times Square Ball.net и Livestream.com.

You can see how everything was last year in this video.