Alexis McCrossen, a professor at SMU and an expert on how cultures have marked time in history, Joins Tim to talk about our New Year’s Eve traditions with a special focus on the story behind that Times Square Ball Drop.

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If you plan to watch the Times Square ball drop at Midnight on New Year’s Eve, you’re not alone.  New York City expects to play host to over 2 million people for the festivities.

* Over 175 million across the United States will watch the ball drop on TV.

* And around the world, over 1 billion people will watch.

* 103 million said they will travel 30 miles or more to celebrate

* 93.6 million will drive

When we think of New Year’s Eve, we often think of Times Square and parties at organized events, bars and restaurants, but I have some interesting statistics, thanks to WalletHub from last year:

* 49% celebrate the holiday at home

* 9% at a bar, restaurant, or organized event

* 23% don’t celebrate New Year’s Eve

* 30% said they fall asleep before Midnight

* 61% said they say a prayer on New Year’s Eve.

Rankings

* Christmas 78%

* Thanksgiving 74%

* Independence Day 47%

* New Year’s Eve 41%

Most Popular New Year’s Eve Destinations

* Las Vegas

* Orlando

* New York City

More Times Square Stats

* 7,000 police officers in Times Square

* 1.5 tons of confetti dropped

* 280 sanitation workers will clean up 40-50 tons of trash.

* The ball itself – Waterford Crystal Triangles – 11,875 pounds

That’s today. Let’s talk about the history:

* For 4,000 years people have marked a New Year

* Public bells would herald the New Year since the Middle Ages

* Theaters, taverns and other places would be very busy on the night

* Rituals meant to augur good fortune.

* 1900 or so, the moment of Midnight became the focus because cities were illuminated with gas and electric lights. (Times Square)

* Installation of public clocks and bells

The Countdown

* 1907/08 was the first year to drop an illuminated time ball at the moment of the New Year’s arrival.

* Uses a flag pole atop One Times Square.

* First one was made of iron and wood and had 25-watt light bulbs. 5 feet in diameter and weighed 700 pounds.

* When radio and television media emerged, New Year’s Eve was a made for broadcast media event. Live coverage.

Links

* Counting Down to a New Year: The History of Our Joyful Celebration, We're History

* For Better or Worse, The New Year is Time's Touchstone, Dallas Morning News

* A Ball of a Time: A History of the New Year's Eve Ball Drop, The New Yorker

* How Times Square Became the Home of New Year's Eve, History.com

About this Episode's Guest Alexis McCrossen

Alexis McCrossen is a professor of history at Southern Methodist University and has devoted her career as a cultural historian to studying how Americans observe the passage of time. She is the author of Holy Day, Holiday: The American Sunday; and