New Years' Day has passed already, but it wasn't that long ago, so talking about New York New Year's (say that five times fast) traditions still counts.
New York is the largest city in the United States. It is known as the 'gateway of immigration' and the Big Apple state. It's location on the waterfront is the basis of one of New York's most long-standing New Year's traditions.
The time-ball drop, or the ball-drop occurs at 11:59 p.m. on New Years' Eve. A large lit-up ball is placed on a tall pole located in Times Square. At the appointed time, the ball is lowered until it reaches the bottom of the pole precisely at midnight. In this one short minute, the ball drops over 75 feet. Millions of people gather to watch this short event. And it's probably a good thing that it's short. The average temperature is only one degree above freezing.
The time ball was used in the past to help sailors in the harbor synchronize their chronometers to the correct time. In those days accurate time-keeping was crucial for ocean navigation. At a set time, noon in the U.S., the ball would drop. Five minutes before noon, the ball would be raised half-way up it's pole to alert the sailors that it was almost time. It was raised all the way when there were only two or three minutes remaining. The time was carefully recorded the second the ball began to fall. In this manner, ships would be able to set their chronometers correctly. Time balls were in use for 80 years until the invention of radio time signals in 1924. Nevertheless, the time ball is used in New York each New Year. In keeping with their name as the Big Apple state, the time ball is occasionally not a ball but rather an apple. If you don't want to fight the crowds and pay transportation costs, next year, you can look it up on the Internet and watch it there.
Other New York traditions include the showering of confetti from tall buildings, fireworks, and the singing of Auld Lang Syne. New York is a city rich with history. Perhaps some other time you'll hear some more about it here.
Happy New Year!
(This has been: Snippets of New York. Look in next time to read: Stories of My Life:__)
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