Guest Author - Mary Ellen Sweeney

With over a million people watching the ball drop from the “Crossroads of the World” at Times Square last year, and with 70% of the U.S. population celebrating New Year’s Eve at home, the Waterford Crystal ball that drops this year will have a huge audience receiving its message of global togetherness. This year's theme is "Hope for Fellowship."

There has been a new panel created for the Waterford Crystal ball, with a design that includes interlocking arms - maybe a claddagh thought - meant to show the "spirit of friendship and fellowship." The outer surface is covered with over 500 Waterford Crystal panels designed and cut specially to withstand the extreme stress as the Ball starts its 77 foot drop on the stroke of midnight on December 31, 2005 and lands 60 seconds later on January 1, 2006. The ball is six feet in diameter, weighs more than 1,000 pounds and is lit from within. In addition to the crystals, there are 696 light bulbs, 96 high-intensity strobe lights, and 90 rotating pyramid mirrors.

That something as fragile as this Irish crystal, fine though it surely is, can be so powerful will perhaps serve as a symbol for this New Year prayer. Other crystal designs include "The Star of Hope" which rang in the new millennium back on New Year's Eve 1999, and "Hope for Healing" in honor of the victims of September 11th. "Whether it's daylight in the sun, or night with the lights on it, it really sparkles," said Pete Cheyney of Waterford Crystal.

Times Square Alliance workers are in full swing getting ready for the New Year’s Eve celebration, all the wires being hung with great care. The Alliance coordinates the massive performance, seen all over the world.

Waterford Crystal employs 9,000 people worldwide and is the leading brand of premium crystal. They don't just make "The Ball," but also are involved in other high profile events, producing the World Series and Super Bowl trophies and the Stanley Cup.

Popular Waterford Crystal products.