Now perhaps the world’s most famous ball
Needs no sport to hold viewers in thrall
Every year in the Square
Sixty seconds we stare
While the thing makes its world-famous fall

Event: The first “ball drop” held in Times Square
Year: 1907
Learn more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Square_Ball

A carol for times that lack light
That can render a twelfth month’s eve bright
Song of peace and of grace
In a gentle babe’s face
Shocking silent those gathered that night

Event: “Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht” (Eng: “Silent Night”) is performed for the first time
Year: 1818
Learn more: Silent Night

Not the first ones to take to the air
The balloons had them way beat up there
But they gave us a mode
Not so wont to explode
And for that we owe much to this pair

Event: The Wright Flyer flies at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
Year: 1903
Learn more: Wright Flyer
History of aviation
National Air and Space Museum

Though it’s never worked quite right for time
Other measures it handles sublime
And its flag has unfurled
Over most of the world
That some mock it is truly a crime

Event: France adopts the metric system as its official system of measurement
Year: 1799
Learn more: Metric system

Though he was not the Wizard of Oz
Barnard pulled Louis back from death’s jaws
For those folks who need hearts
This is where it all starts
An achievement to give us all pause

Event: Dr. Christiaan Barnard performs the first successful heart transplant
Year: 1967
Learn more: Heart transplantation