A wonderful New Year’s tradition: Dropping Hopes and Dreams in Time Square

A lot of people all over the world look forward to spending New Year's Eve at Times Square. A large crystal ball is dropped from the top of One Times Square at the stroke of midnight every year to mark the beginning of the New Year and the passing of the Old. Along with the dropping of the ball at midnight, the confetti shower that follows has become an indelible part of New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square.

As the confetti falls from the sky, it is easy to wonder what it represents. Does it carry with it the hopes and dreams of the people below? Is it a symbol of the fresh start that the new year brings? Or is it simply a playful and celebratory gesture?