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All eyes on Waterford Crystal ball for Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration

New crystals added for “Let There Be Friendship” theme

KERRY O’SHEA,

IrishCentral Intern

Published Wednesday, December 28, 2011, 8:06 AM

Updated Wednesday, December 28, 2011, 8:06 AM

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The Times Square New Year s Eve Ball is tested they day before New Year's Eve December 30, 2010 in New York City.

Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images

For the eleventh year in a row, a Waterford Crystal ball will be descending upon Times Square in New York City at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve to help ring in the new year. This year, the theme for the ball is “Let There Be Friendship.”

Waterford Crystal was first chosen in 2000 to create the iconic ball that drops in Time Square on New Year’s Eve. Ever since, there have been yearly themes, some of which include “Let There Be Love,” “Let There Be Courage” and “Let There Be Joy.” Each theme employs a new design that is patterned onto a certain number of crystals on the ball. This year, there are 288 “Let There Be Friendship” crystals being added to the ball.

The design for this year’s theme includes the image of people holding hands around the world.
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The Examiner reports that “The newest design joins 288 crystal hearts from the 2011 "Let There Be Love"pattern; 288 triangles with the 2009 "Let There Be Courage" ribbon medal design. There are also 864 crystals that feature the "Let There Be Joy" design and 960 with the original "Let There Be Light" sunburst design.”

This year’s ball weighs 11,875 pounds, is 12 feet in diameter and has 2,688 Waterford Crystals adorned to it.

The tradition of dropping the ball in Times Square began back in 1907. The ball then was crafted from iron and wood and attached light-bulbs, and was dropped a second after midnight unlike at the stroke of midnight that is customary today.

Workers installed 300 new crystals to the ball on Tuesday, in New York City.

Nster.com

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6 Comments

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LaoiseRyan | Jan 01, 2012, 08:06 AM EST

Joycean, thats not a reason for the irish to celebrate as its still owned by foreigners.

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Penny55 | Dec 29, 2011, 10:06 PM EST

Are you still be lonely? Do you want someone to companion with you. My- friends told me a nice place ------ 'Millionairesocial.C-O-M There are so many beautiful /successful people!,young girls / rich men. to- int'eract with each other., "everything to everyone"dating \.marry .even, a nice club for y'ounger women and old'er men, or older women and y'ounger men, and Age is no problem. everything is possible!You do not have to be rich or famous

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joycean | Dec 28, 2011, 05:49 PM EST

The company was bought by some Irish Americans. We should celebrate.

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Murph46 | Dec 28, 2011, 11:04 AM EST

Sad commentary!It was a reason for us to go to Ireland in the past.

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eiregirl | Dec 28, 2011, 09:50 AM EST

All Irish eyes will be on the ball and thinking how sad that the world renowned glassware company still uses the name of the city where it nolonger resides. I'd be pretty pis'd off if I was from Waterford. My mother has WC from when it was Irish made and I've some not from Ireland (it was a gift, I wouldn't buy it) and there is a huge difference in quality.

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LaoiseRyan | Dec 28, 2011, 09:24 AM EST

Waterford crystal is now made in Poland.

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