
It’s back! In what has become an annual ritual for millions on Christmas Eve, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, is tracking Santa Claus’s journey from the North Pole to deliver gifts to children across the globe.
NORAD’s Santa Claus tracker website — NORADSanta.org — includes a map that allows users to track Santa’s location in real time. The site attracts tens of millions of visitors every year.
Beginning at midnight on Christmas Eve, the site utilizes satellite mapping technology and digital animation to simulate the route of Santa’s reindeer and sleigh.
The tracker also features a live count of gifts delivered by Jolly Old St. Nick. At the time of this publication, that figure was more than 1.3 billion.
NORAD’s history of tracking Santa
The practice began in 1955 when a child accidentally called the unlisted number of what was then the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center, asking for Santa Claus.
Not wanting to disappoint the young caller, Air Force Col. Harry Shoup, the command center’s director of operations, “instructed his staff to check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole,” according to NORAD. Each year since, NORAD has dutifully reported Santa’s location on Dec. 24 to millions of children and families.
The binational military organization, based in Colorado Springs, Colo., eventually enlisted volunteers to answer a dedicated phone line to give updates on Santa’s whereabouts. In recent years, those volunteers have included pop stars, presidents and first ladies.
And the hotline still exists: You can call 877-HI-NORAD (877-446-6723) to reach one of the call center’s operators. (President Trump is scheduled to field NORAD Santa calls from Palm Beach, Fla., on Wednesday afternoon.) Last Christmas Eve, it logged more than 300,000 calls.
Just don’t ask when Santa will arrive at your house.
“NORAD tracks Santa, but only Santa knows his route, which means we cannot predict where and when he will arrive at your house,” the organization explains on its FAQ page. “We do, however, know from history that it appears he arrives only when children are asleep!”
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Scientists are getting our robotic explorers ready to help send humans to Mars - 2
4 injured in shooting at North Carolina tree lighting ceremony - 3
Figure out How to Pick the Right Dental specialist for Your Dental Inserts - 4
Help Your Efficiency with These Work area Updates - 5
December's overlooked meteor shower peaks next week — will the Ursids surprise us?
Some gifted dogs can learn new toy names by eavesdropping on owners
Astronomer captures 2 meteors slamming into the moon (video)
Carry Nature Inside with These Staggering Plant Decisions
Why is Jerome Powell being investigated? Making sense of the DOJ's probe into the Federal Reserve chair.
NASA's Voyager 1 set to achieve historic distance from Earth
Wegmans recalls mixed nuts over salmonella contamination fears
Popular Home Rug Series For You
5 VIPs That Changed Style
From White Elephant to Favorite Things parties, here are all the rules you need to know every kind of gift exchange












