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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the United States, New Year’s Eve is a major social holiday. One of the top destination cities for New Year’s Eve is New York City.^[19]

In the past 100 years the “ball dropping” on top of One Times Square in New York City, broadcast to all of America (and rebroadcast in many other countries), is a major component of the New Year celebration.^[20] The 11,875-pound (5,386 kg), 12-foot (3.7 m) diameter Waterford crystal ball located high above Times Square is lowered, starting at 11:59:00pm and reaching the bottom of its tower 60 seconds later, at the stroke of midnight (12:00:00am). This is repeated in many towns and cities across the United States.^[20] From 1981 to 1988, New York City dropped an enlarged apple in recognition of its nickname. It is sometimes referred to as “the big apple” like the city itself; the custom derives from the time signal that used to be given at noon in harbors.

New Year’s Eve
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
United States

In the United States, New Year’s Eve is a major social holiday. One of the top destination cities for New Year’s Eve is New York City.^[19]

In the past 100 years the “ball dropping” on top of One Times Square in New York City, broadcast to all of America (and rebroadcast in many other countries), is a major component of the New Year celebration.^[20] The 11,875-pound (5,386 kg), 12-foot (3.7 m) diameter Waterford crystal ball located high above Times Square is lowered, starting at 11:59:00pm and reaching the bottom of its tower 60 seconds later, at the stroke of midnight (12:00:00am). This is repeated in many towns and cities across the United States.^[20] From 1981 to 1988, New York City dropped an enlarged apple in recognition of its nickname. It is sometimes referred to as “the big apple” like the city itself; the custom derives from the time signal that used to be given at noon in harbors.

From 1972 through 2007 (except in 1999), Dick Clark hosted televised coverage of the event calledDick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, shown on ABC, and now renamed Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest for the arrival of 2009 with Ryan Seacrest handling hosting duties. The show did not air for the arrival of 2000 as it was preempted by ABC 2000 Today, but Dick Clark reported during the “ABC 2000″ broadcast, with an introduction from Peter Jennings, saying some would not consider it the New Year if Dick Clark did not count it down. From 1956 to 1976 on CBS, Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians serenaded the United States from the ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Park Avenue in New York City. The Royal Canadians continued on CBS until 1978, and Happy New Year, America replaced it in 1979, continuing until 1995. The song Auld Lang Syne has become a popular song to sing at midnight on New Year’s Eve, with the Lombardo version being the standard. NBC also has hosted New Year’s coverage; traditionally, the networks’ late night hosts have hosted special editions of their regular shows (including a special Central Time Zone-specific countdown onLate Night with Conan O’Brien), but since 2005, the network has opted for a special entitled New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly. Fox, CNN, andFox News Channel also have their own New Year’s specials. One of the more popular traditions is the Twilight Zone marathon hosted on Syfy(formerly SciFi).