
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
Vote In favor of Your Favored Keeping an eye on - 2
Winona Ryder didn't take the 'Stranger Things' plot lightly. How 'otherworldly' grief and a kidnapping in her hometown informed her character. - 3
Dick Van Dyke shares his secrets to longevity as he turns 100 - 4
The Best 15 Applications for Efficiency and Association - 5
Orbán orders stop to gas deliveries to Ukraine via Hungary from July
Iran war pushes Germany's deficit to 4.2% as growth outlook is cut by 50%
Northern lights chances rise for Christmas as space weather remains unsettled
Coffee Prices Finish Higher on Brazil Cop Concerns
Who is Adm. Frank 'Mitch' Bradley and what does he have to do with the Venezuela boat strikes?
Figure out How to Explore Land Close to 5G Pinnacles
Well known Worldwide Caf\u00e9s to Experience
Wegmans recalls mixed nuts over salmonella contamination fears
5 Movies That Leaving an Imprint with Inventive Innovation
Figure out How to Use Your Nursing Abilities for Better Compensation












