The Times Square ball drop has been a tradition since 1907 when the original ball of wood and iron made its way down the pole. Now watched by millions around the world, the tradition is still going strong.
Times Square has been the site of New Year’s celebrations in New York since 1904, the year the Square got its name when The New York Times moved into a building there. The paper’s owner, Adolph Ochs, held a celebration on New Year’s Eve that year to commemorate the opening of the paper’s new headquarters.
Two years into the new tradition, the city banned the fireworks display, prompting the ball drop to take its place.
The New Year's celebrations took place across the world as people enthusiastically marked the arrival of 2025. The transition to 2025 unfurled in a striking wave of celebrations as each region marks the occasion. The celebration is testament of global unity, as from small islands in the Pacific to energetic and busy cities, all welcomed the New Year with passion and thrill.
