ニューヨーク・タイムズのインスタグラム(nytimes) - 1月1日 10時00分

For the first time in decades, Times Square is closed to the public on New Year’s Eve.

In the final hours of each year, the eyes of the world are drawn to New York City, where a glittering crystal ball in Midtown Manhattan marks a communal chance for a new beginning. The ball was first dropped in 1907. Since then, it has been lowered on New Year’s Eve nearly every year, with breaks only in 1942 and 1943 because of World War II-related “dimouts” that required lights to be shut off as a protection against air attacks. The photographer Michael Shavel snapped this photo for The Times on New Year’s Eve in 1989, when crowds of New Year's revelers gathered to watch the annual rite of the dropping of the ball atop Times Square.

This New Year’s Eve, the scene looks a little different. The ball drop will be a private affair in person, closed to the public, instead honoring frontline workers who helped keep New York running during the pandemic.

On the guest list were a pediatrician at Elmhurst Hospital, a public hospital that was overwhelmed by the pandemic; a pizza delivery driver who became ill with the coronavirus; and Ronald Colbert, a Staten Island Ferry operator who will be attending his 40th Times Square ball drop. “I am just so honored and happy,” said Colbert, 66, who worked through the pandemic. “The elements of the excitement that Times Square offers — I get to share that again.” Tap the link in our bio to read more from this year’s quiet celebration, and follow @nytarchives for more photos from the past.

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