Every New Year’s Eve brings a new ball to New York City’s Times Square. The tradition began in 1907 and remains one of the world’s most iconic spectacles at the turn of the new year.
This year’s design is called The Gift of Fortitude. The design utilizes “diamond cuts on either side of a crystal pillar to represent the inner attributes of resolve, courage and spirit necessary to triumph over adversity,” according to the Times Square Ball’s official website.
The ball is illuminated by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LED lights and can display more than 16 million vibrant colors in billions of patterns.
See Photos of the Times Square New Year's Ball Through History
Technicians eye the new improved New Years ball, with halogen lamps for greater visibility, in New York City in 1978. Chester Higgins Jr.—The New York Times/ReduxNew York City Mayor Ed Koch gives the thumbs up sign as he flips a switch to test the Big Apple Ball on Dec. 24, 1981 in New York City. Marty Lederhandler—APJason Samuels, an electrician with signmaker Artkraft Strauss, checks the connections on a lighted ball at the company's shop in New York City, Dec. 22, 1994. Jon Simon—APTimes Square Business Improvement District President Brendan Sexton, left, New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, second from left, actor and Chairman of New York City 2000 Ron Silver, right rear, and President of Countdown Entertainment Jeffrey A. Straus, right, make a toast at a press conference in New York City on, Dec. 28, 1998. Marty Lederhandler—APThe New York Times Square Ball sits atop 1 Times Square during its test lighting in preparation for the Times Square 2000 celebration, Dec. 30, 1999. Timothy A. Clary—AFP/Getty ImagesPeter Gravagna (L), Raymond Nieves (C) and Felix Ortega (R), of Landmark Signs, install light bulbs on the New Year's Eve Ball in New York City on Dec. 28, 2001. Stan Honda—AFP/Getty ImagesWorkers test a giant 1,070-pound, six-foot diameter Waterford Crystal ball, in New York City on Dec. 30, 2003. Jeff Christensen—ReutersA workman installs one of 72 new Waterford Crystal triangles, featuring the "Hope for Fellowship" design, on the exterior of the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball in New York City on Dec. 28, 2005. Stan Honda—AFP/Getty ImagesThe New Year's Eve Ball is displayed at the Macy's Store in Herald Square before moving to Times Square for New Years celebrations, in New York City on Nov. 5, 2008. Jeff Zelevansky—Getty ImagesThe Waterford Crystal ball in place and ready for the New Year's celebration in New York City on Dec. 30, 2009. Ozier Muhammad—The New York Times/ReduxFireworks explode as the Waterford crystal ball is raised at the beginning of Times Square New Year's celebration in New York City on Dec. 31, 2012.Mary Altaffer—APA view of the general atmosphere at the 2014 New Year's Eve Philips Ball Test at One Times Square in New York City on Dec. 30, 2013.Desiree Navarro—WireImage/Getty Imges
