
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
Ukraine Now Using Drone Boats To Attack Russian Riverine Targets - 2
Setbacks in Texas and elsewhere put Republicans' redistricting hopes in doubt as key deadlines loom - 3
Vote in favor of your favored spot to peruse - 4
Tech for Efficiency: Applications and Apparatuses to Accomplish More - 5
Online business Stages for Little Retailers
Man who grabbed Ariana Grande at 'Wicked: For Good' premiere also rushed Katy Perry onstage this year. Who is he and why is he doing this?
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS reveals weird wobbling jets in rare sun-facing tail
With more Moon missions on the horizon, avoiding crowding and collisions will be a growing challenge
Investigating Cooking and Culinary Expressions: An Excursion Through Flavors
Pick Your #1 game to observe
Ariana Grande says Eternal Sunshine 2026 tour will be her last for a 'long, long time': 'One last hurrah'
Top Breakfast Food: What's Your Morning Enjoyment?
New science points to 4 distinct types of autism
Find the Keys to Fruitful Venture The board: Conveying Results on Time











