Santa is on His Way: Track his Trip Across the Globe with NORAD

Prepare the milk and cookies, The Big Jolly has packed his sleigh and his reindeers are slated to land on your rooftop. NORAD, (The North American Aerospace Defense Command) will launch its online Santa Radar at 2 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 24, tracking Santa’s journey from continent to continent.

Each year, on Christmas Eve, NORAD uses its everyday systems which are: satellite systems, high-powered radar, and jet fighters to track the Big Jolly Guy. For more than 65 years, NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (sCONAD) have tracked Santa’s flight around the world.

How did the Santa Tracker come about?

The modern tradition of tracking Santa began in 1955 when a young child accidentally dialed the unlisted phone number of the CONAD Operations Center upon seeing a newspaper advertisement telling kids to call Santa. The Director of Operations, Colonel Harry Shoup, answered the phone and instructed his staff to check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole.

Thus a tradition was born and continued when NORAD was formed in 1958. Each year since NORAD has dutifully reported Santa’s location on Dec. 24 to millions of children and families across the globe. NORAD receives calls from around the world on Dec. 24 asking for Santa’s location. Children, families, and fans also keep track of Santa’s location on the NORAD Tracks Santa® website and our social media platforms.

The NORAD Tracks Santa (NTS) has been around for 65 years and is funded through generous contributions from the company’s corporate team. NORAD was able to bring the program to fruition with the help of various donations including computer servers, website design, video imaging, Santa’s tracking map, and telephone services. The NTS program is managed by NORAD and the United States Northern Command Public Affairs Office at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

Christmas 2021 will be the 66th year NORAD has tracked Santa’s Christmas Eve travels.

You can visit the track Santa’s Journey with NORAD here.

In addition to the online radar, you can track St.Nick’s annual flight on all NORAD social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram, Youtube, and the NORAD Tracks Santa Mobile App.

Curious about where he is? You can reach the NORAD Tracks Santa Operation Center at 1-877-466-6723 or email noradtrackssanta@outlook.com A NORAD staff member will provide callers with Santa’s last and current location via email.

This is the 66th year NORAD has tracked Santa’s Christmas Eve travels.