In "Dropping the Ball on New Year's Eve," India James explains how the tradition of the Times Square "ball drop" has its roots in maritime time-telling.
Pair “New Year's Eve New York City Style” with “Dropping the Ball on New Year’s Eve” and have students compare the descriptions of the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebrations. What inspired Adolph Ochss to do the first New Year’s Eve ball drop according to “New Year's Eve New York City Style”? How did the ball drop become a tradition, and how has it changed over the years? How does this description of the celebration add to your understanding of the ball drop celebration in “Dropping the Ball on New Year’s Eve”? Based on the information in both texts, would you rather watch the ball drop on New Year’s Eve in New York City, Traverse City, or one of the other locations described in “Dropping the Ball on New Year’s Eve”? Explain why.