Every Christmas Eve, millions of children across the globe eagerly anticipate the arrival of Santa Claus, and this year is no exception. Thanks to modern technology, tracking Santa's gift-giving expedition has become as much of a holiday tradition as the man himself. Both the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and tech giant Google have tools for families to follow the jolly Santa as he traverses the skies.
Started almost 70 years ago, NORAD's Santa tracking service has grown from humble beginnings. The tradition began accidentally when a misprinted phone number invited children to call Santa Claus. Instead, they reached NORAD's predecessor, CONAD (Continental Air Defense Command). Colonel Harry Shoup humorously misled these young callers, assuring them he was Santa. This charming mistake snowballed, and now each year, volunteers at NORAD respond to approximately 100,000 calls from children curious about Santa's whereabouts.
NORAD Tracks Santa is accessible through its website, noradsanta.org, where families can see Santa's current location on a digital map, which updates as he travels. "Cada año, el sitio web de NORAD Tracks Santa recibe varios millones de visitantes únicos de más de 200 países y territorios de todo el mundo," reads NORAD's information, emphasizing the global interest.
This year, as of 15:00 GMT on December 24, Santa has already made his way through New Zealand and Australia, delighting children with gifts before moving on to Asia. Santa is currently soaring through the skies over China, preparing to continue his route across Europe before eventually reaching North America.
Meanwhile, Google offers its own interactive tool known as the Santa Tracker. Launched back in 2004, this platform allows families to keep track of Santa's movements via real-time mapping technology. The Google Santa Tracker engages children not only with tracking features but also with fun games and educational activities. Users can code elf dance moves, learn about Christmas traditions around the world, and personalize Santa's appearance. "Santa Tracker es una herramienta interactiva gratuita que te permite rastrear el trayecto de Santa Claus el 24 de diciembre," explains the tool's description from Google.
This year, as Santa approaches various countries, excitement builds about his imminent arrival. Children can expect Santa to reach Mexico later on the 25th due to time zone differences, which places Mexico among the last countries to receive his visit. Current updates show Santa has just delivered gifts across luminary cities, including London, Switzerland, and now he is heading to cities across Eastern Europe.
At the Pentagon, spokesperson Pat Ryder humorously reminded citizens not to confuse sightings of Santa with drone activity. “Si ve luces rojas y verdes en el cielo, probablemente sea él. Tenga en cuenta que se trata de un objeto autorizado en el cielo y no de un dron,” he remarked, playfully addressing safety concerns.
These tracking systems serve more than just entertainment—they create lasting holiday memories and instill the spirit of giving among families. The integration of technology not only keeps children engaged but also connects them with the magic of the season, encouraging them to learn and interact with the world around them.
The tradition has evolved, but the essence remains unchanged: celebrating joy, wonder, and the excitement of Christmas Eve. From spontaneous calls to the NORAD hotline to interactive games via Google, the Christmas spirit thrives as Santa flies around the globe spreading cheer.
So, this holiday season, whether you're tracking Santa online or by phone, joining this age-old tradition can bring families closer together, fostering joy and excitement as they await the arrival of the man with the red suit.
