Lacking a Big Ben, Sydney Harbour Bridge fireworks or even the pips on Radio Four, Americans basically ignore local global icons such as the Empire State Building and have always turned to New York’s Times Square to mark the new year. Millions watch - crammed on the streets in person, freezing and without toilets, or on TV - a giant crystal, illuminated ball descending down a pole at midnight, high above the heart of New York City. But many places across the US refuse to rely on the New York ball drop and have devised their own versions to mark midnight - but always involving a ‘drop’, according to this CNN report. Idaho, the state most famous for producing spuds, has the New Year’s Eve potato drop. In the state capital, Boise, a giant, glowing fibre glass potato will be lowered on the stroke of 2019.

Source: The Guardian December 31, 2018 09:49 UTC