THE JEWISH ORIGINS OF A NEW YEARS TRADITION

Do you enjoy the Times Square ball drop ushering in the New Year? We have American Jewish newspaper publisher Adolph S. Ochs to thank for this beloved tradition. Ochs was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on March 12th, 1858, and began his work in the newspaper business at a very young age, delivering newspapers, working as an apprentice, and later as owner/publisher of several leading newspapers. Ochs was able to obtain controlling interest in the faltering New York Times in 1896 where he added the phrase “All the News That’s Fit to Print.” To welcome in 1905, he launched the first New Year’s Eve celebration to draw attention to the new location at One Times Square with a grand firework show. Because fireworks were banned two years later, and, in order to increase crowd size, Ochs sought out a new grander celebration which would incorporate a “time ball” into the festivities. Jewish immigrant Jacob Starr designed the first ball made of iron, wood, and incandescent lights. Bringing in the New Year of 1908, the iconic New Year’s Eve Ball made its debut on December 31st , 1907. The 700- pound- iron and wooden ball made a short descent from the tower flagpole and was described in the The New York Times, “From Base to dome the giant structure was alight — a torch to usher in the newborn year…” An American tradition was born.

Information gathered from: https://timessquareball.net/nye-history/.