"America's Quirkiest New Year's Eve Drops: From Times Square to MoonPies"
The Times Square New Year's Eve ball drop is a tradition with over a century of history, originating from timekeeping practices for sailors. The event replaced fireworks due to a ban in 1907 and has only been paused during WWII. The modern ball is a hefty 11,875 lbs and is covered with meaningful Waterford Crystal triangles. Post-celebration cleanup is a massive task, with 200 sanitation workers clearing over 60 tons of trash. Revelers can submit wishes to be dropped as confetti, and some pay thousands for a restaurant view of the event. Security is heightened this year due to recent threats, with extensive measures including 1,200 cameras and a large police presence.