
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
Get Cooking: 15 Speedy and Heavenly Recipes for Occupied Individuals - 2
NATO needs Ukraine's 'adaptation DNA' and an 'HOV lane' for new war tech, top commander says - 3
Step by step instructions to Guarantee the Life span of Your Dental Inserts: Support and Care Guide - 4
Which European palace do you fantasy about visiting? Vote! - 5
Sources: IDF does not actually know how many ballistic missiles Iran has left
Fundamental Archives for Beginning Your Business
Explosions heard across Tehran after IDF announces wave of strikes on regime terror targets
From Exemplary to Current: Famous Rings Available
Arctic sea ice just dropped to an alarming new low
Crew-11 astronauts undock in 1st-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station (video)
EU health regulator urges immediate vaccinations amid early surge in flu cases
Peruvian ex-President Martin Vizcarra sentenced to 14 years in prison
Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) breaks apart in incredible telescope photos
'Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man' teaser trailer reveals Cillian Murphy's Tommy Shelby back in action












