NORAD’s Santa Tracker: From Wrong Number to High-Tech Holiday Magic

In an extraordinary blend of military precision and holiday wonder, NORAD’s Santa Tracker has evolved from a serendipitous phone call mishap to a sophisticated global operation that captures the imagination of millions each Christmas Eve.

How NORAD’s Santa Tracker began

In December 1955, Sears Roebuck & Co advertised in a Colorado Springs newspaper, inviting children to call Santa Claus directly. The ad included a phone number for “Santa’s private line,” but a misprint led the calls to the hotline of the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), the predecessor of NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command).

Colonel Harry Shoup, the officer on duty, answered one such call from an excited boy asking to speak with Santa. Realizing the mix-up, Shoup played along, responding as Santa Claus. “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” he asked.

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As more children dialed the number, Shoup instructed his staff to provide updates on Santa’s location. This unexpected situation marked the birth of the first-ever “Santa tracker.”

NORAD takes over the tradition

When CONAD transitioned to NORAD in 1958, the Santa-tracking tradition continued. NORAD officially embraced the role, using its advanced radar systems, satellites, and volunteers to share Santa’s journey. What began as a spontaneous gesture evolved into a cherished Christmas custom celebrated worldwide.

Initially, the tradition relied on volunteers answering thousands of calls from children eager for Santa updates. By the 1990s, the rise of the internet transformed the experience. NORAD launched its first Santa-tracking website in 1997, allowing families to follow Santa’s route on a virtual map.

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A global phenomenon

Today, NORAD’s Santa Tracker integrates satellite imagery, GPS, and social media updates. The website attracts nearly 15 million unique visitors annually from over 200 countries and territories. Volunteers answer more than 130,000 calls from children worldwide, keeping the magic of Santa alive for generations.

How does NORAD track Santa?

The NORAD website offers a free service that allows families to follow Santa’s journey around the world. According to Forbes, Santa begins his journey at the International Date Line, an imaginary line running from the North Pole to the South Pole. To stay ahead of schedule, he travels westward, starting in the South Pacific, followed by New Zealand and Australia.

From there, Santa flies over Japan, continues across Asia, and makes his way to Africa. He then visits Europe before crossing the Atlantic to Canada and the United States, eventually heading south to Mexico, Central America, and South America.

NORAD takes Santa tracking seriously, even dispatching jet fighters to escort him along his route in North America. Pilots from the U.S. Air Force fly F-15s, F-16s, or F-22s alongside Santa and his legendary reindeer—Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph—to ensure a safe and magical journey.

“In most countries, it seems Santa arrives between 9 pm and midnight on December 24th,” says NORAD. “If children are still awake when Santa arrives, he moves on to other houses. He returns later, but only when the children are asleep!”

The transformation of a wrong number into a cherished global tradition exemplifies how military precision and childhood wonder can create something truly magical, proving that sometimes the best traditions arise from the most unexpected circumstances.