
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
Step by step instructions to Guarantee Your Lab Precious stone is Morally Obtained17.10.2023 - 2
6 Fun Urban areas For Seniors To Travel06.06.2024 - 3
Relish the World: Notable Caf\u00e9s You Really want to Attempt05.06.2024 - 4
Travel Through France's Most Iconic Wine Regions By Train On An Immersive Seven-Day Journey06.01.2026 - 5
'All's Fair,' Ryan Murphy's new show starring Kim Kardashian, hit with scathing reviews: 'A girlboss fever dream'07.11.2025
7 Extraordinary Efficiency Applications for Experts
Hilary Duff's husband responds to Ashley Tisdale's 'toxic' mom group claims: The drama, explained
How to get rid of your Christmas tree — and the 1 thing to never, ever do with it
Key takeaways from Sen. Bill Cassidy's interview on 'Face the Nation' with Margaret Brennan
Make your choice for the music application with the most amicable connection point!
AbbVie plans to build out its presence in obesity market
Home Security Frameworks with Shrewd Elements
Grasping the Qualifications Among Separation and Dissolution
Full SNAP benefits must be paid ‘promptly,’ USDA tells states as government reopens











