OnNew Year's Eve, many localities in the United States and elsewhere mark the beginning of a new year through the raising or lowering of an object. Many of these events are patterned on festivities that have been held at New York City's Times Square since 1908, where a large crystal ball is lowered down a pole atop One Times Square (beginning its descent at 11:59:00 p.m. local time, and concluding at midnight).[1] In turn, the event was inspired by the time balls used by ship navigators in the 19th century to calibrate their chronometers.
Whilst some of these events use a ball in imitation of Times Square, many "drops" utilize objects that represent an aspect of local culture, geography, or history. Ball drops are by far the most common in, but not exclusive to, the United States.
New York holds many elaborate drops, particularly the ball drop at Times Square and at the Electric Tower in Buffalo. The state comes in second in America for the most items dropped on New Year's Eve.[citation needed]
Pennsylvania is the state where the most objects are dropped on New Year's Eve,[147] though the tradition has declined in recent years in places such as Lancaster County.[148]
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