Each Christmas Eve, millions of children around the world eagerly await the arrival of Santa Claus, and thanks to technology, they can track his every move. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has made it its holiday mission to monitor Santa's flight from the North Pole to homes across the globe, ensuring children know just when to expect the jolly man with gifts.
The tradition began almost accidentally back in 1955. A child's misdialed phone call, intended for Santa, ended up reaching the Continental Air Defense Command, the precursor to NORAD. Air Force Colonel Harry W. Shoup, knowing the call was meant for the North Pole, took it upon himself to embody Santa's spirit. "Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?" he replied, quickly realizing he had struck gold. This simple mistake ignited the imaginations of countless children, leading to the establishment of the Santa Tracker and the whimsical legends surrounding Santa's nightly flight.
Each year, volunteers at NORAD answer thousands of calls from excited children asking about their favorite holiday figure. According to Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer, “There are screams and giggles and laughter” as each child shares their wish list, often accompanied by the earnest request to know if they are on Santa’s nice list. Parents chime in with reminders to go to bed early so Santa can make his rounds!
Using satellite technology and radar systems, NORAD tracks Santa’s sleigh as he travels the globe—his path uniquely determined by Earth's time zones. The jolly fat man himself typically follows the night, starting from the North Pole and heading west, crossing the international dateline as the sun sets. Each Santa stop is marked along the way, giving little ones the chance to anticipate his arrival. This year, he has already delivered over 1.3 billion presents and is currently working his way through Asia, spreading holiday cheer to children everywhere.
The logistics behind Santa’s ride have fascinated children and adults alike. NORAD reveals fanciful specifications about Santa’s sleigh—measured, of course, in candy canes! With dimensions reported as 75 candy canes long, 40 wide, and 55 tall, it carries the equivalent of 75,000 gumdrops at the start of his delivery run, gaining extra weight due to ice and snow during the evening. A NORAD representative described Santa's sleigh as “a versatile, all-weather, multi-purpose” vehicle with remarkable capabilities to travel vast distances without refueling, only deployed on Christmas Eve and occasionally for test flights earlier.
On average, estimates suggest Santa must visit about 390,000 houses each minute to fulfill his mission, leaving little time for rest at each stop. This requires him to glide through homes with remarkable speed and dexterity, making holiday folklore all the more enchanting. An AI Bot recently offered insight on the incredible task at hand, asserting, "To visit every house in the world in a single night, Santa would have to move at an incredibly fast speed." The magical elements involved make such feats possible, engaging imaginations and filling homes with joy during this season of giving.
While NORAD traditionally focuses on homeland security and defense, the annual tradition reminds everyone—both children and adults—of the heartwarming spirit of Christmas. From volunteers answering phone calls about Santa’s whereabouts to the millions of online followers checking his global itinerary, the festive spirit remains alive and well.
This year marks the 69th anniversary of NORAD's tracking tradition, showcasing just how deeply rooted it has become as part of the global Christmas experience. Despite challenges such as government shutdowns, nothing has kept NORAD from continuing this beloved tradition. Whether through respective phone calls, the internet, or apps, families cherish tracking Santa’s movements together, igniting excitement for the holiday season.
Indeed, behind the technicalities lies the heartwarming truth: the ritual of tracking Santa on Christmas Eve is not just about presents, it’s about the memories created and the joy shared among families. It's this spirit of togetherness, along with the laughter and joy, which our world desperately needs—one tracked sleigh at a time.
