NORAD Tracks Santa's Christmas Eve Flight: A 69-Year-Old Tradition

Since early this morning, Santa Claus has embarked on his gift-giving journey. To help parents avoid answering the inevitable question, "When is he arriving?" at least 100 times, the Canadian Region of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) allows you to track Mr. Claus's journey in real-time.

Indeed, through the platform noradsanta.org, children can see in real-time where Santa Claus is located. To keep them waiting a bit, children can also discover Santa's village at the North Pole through games and activities. They can even learn about traditions around the world. A countdown timer is also displayed on the website, translated into nine languages.

The Origins of This Festive Tradition

But where did this tradition come from?

The story goes back to December 24, 1955, when a store from the now-defunct Sears chain published an advertisement in a local Colorado Springs newspaper. The advertisement invited children to call Santa Claus directly. However, a printing error resulted in the incorrect number being printed. Instead of speaking with Santa Claus, children were directed to a CONAD (Continental Air Defense Command, now NORAD) telephone line.

The officer on duty at CONAD on December 24, 1955, Colonel Harry Shoup, was understandably overwhelmed with calls from children asking where Santa Claus was or whether they were on the nice list. Shoup decided to play along, telling his young callers that he was helping Santa and tracking his journey via his radar screens. Shoup then reportedly ordered his personnel to provide real-time updates of Santa's location to the calling children.

Today, 69 years later, the tradition continues. Teams of volunteers handle over 70,000 calls from over 200 different countries and states, and more than 12,000 emails, all within a 25-hour window, from 2:00 AM on December 24th to 3:00 AM on December 25th.

Tracking Santa's Real-Time Journey

Want to follow Santa's journey in real time? Visit: www.noradsanta.org. The website offers a real-time tracker showing Santa’s location, along with games, music, and videos to keep children entertained while they wait for his arrival. The site is available in nine languages, showcasing the global appeal of this heartwarming tradition. Millions of children and adults participate each year, making it a truly international phenomenon.

Santa's Flight Authorized by Canadian Airspace

It's official! Santa's sleigh has been authorized to travel through Canadian airspace, the federal government announced. In a press release issued on Monday, Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand stated that she had spoken with Santa's elves and reviewed several key documents, including Santa's flight plan. Ms. Anand also met with Santa Claus for the first time since becoming Minister of Transport. "Transport Canada is committed to ensuring safe and seamless travel across the country during this holiday season and wishes all Canadians a happy and safe holiday season," the release states.

This authorization underscores the festive spirit and cooperation between government agencies and the iconic figure of Santa Claus. It also highlights the importance of ensuring safe passage for Santa’s unique mode of transportation during his busy Christmas Eve schedule. The Canadian government’s approval adds another layer of credibility and excitement to the already established NORAD Santa Tracker, providing reassurance to children worldwide.

A Near Christmas Disaster Averted by NAV CANADA

NAV CANADA announced that thanks to its alert team and a brilliant and unusual solution, Santa Claus is ready to take off from the North Pole International Airport to complete his annual gift distribution. However, events almost went sour due to the theft of the airport runway markings, a festive mishap orchestrated by the Grump. With heavy snowfall reducing visibility to zero, Christmas deliveries were in jeopardy.

Rudolph, the little reindeer with a nose as red as a candle, lent a hoof to the NAV CANADA technical specialist team who were working to restore the markings in time for the takeoff of the children's great friend. "Christmas falling through wouldn't have been a gift," exclaims Santa Claus live from his sleigh. "Luckily, we can count on Rudolph's nose and the brilliant and quick NAV CANADA team to get me on my celestial journey. Thanks to all those people across the country who show such clear dedication during the holidays!"

Always ready to give someone a helping hoof, Rudolph loved his experience, which even earned him the title of Honorary NAV CANADA Technologist: "These people are tremendously efficient. I'd even be ready to go to work with them if there were carrots in the dining room." Mark Cooper, President and CEO of NAV CANADA, hailed the collaboration between the air navigation service provider and the team of the white-bearded patriarch: "At our company, staff proudly ensure the safety and efficiency of air travel. For the traveling public, of course, but also for all those multicolored packages that need to find their place under a tree. Get out the cookies and milk, because Santa is coming tonight!"

At press time, the Grump had been seen removing his apparently too-tight shoes. The spirit of the holidays was clearly inviting him to introspection, as he muttered: "How grumpy I have been, is Santa Claus a good man, winter and summer?" "The Grump got a hot chocolate for his change of attitude," specifies the North Pole sector police chief, an elf named Gingerbread, "but we're still going to have to garland him."

Global Tracking and Festive Fun

Two websites allow you to follow Santa Claus on his gift-giving tour. At 6 PM, he had already distributed his gifts to millions of Chinese, Indian, or New Zealand children. With his long white beard and unique red tunic, he travels the world on this Tuesday, December 24, to distribute gifts by the thousands. Santa Claus took off from the North Pole, tracked in real time by the American army. His sleigh, pulled by nine courageous reindeer, flew over the Great Wall of China at 3:33 PM French time, according to the US and Canadian military command in charge of air safety (Norad). More than 1.2 billion gifts had already been distributed to sleeping children, at a rate of 100,000 per second.

For young and old alike, it is possible to follow in real time - and in 3D - his great journey on the dedicated website and make sure that he will arrive at your home on time. Another site, the Google Santa Tracker, also allows you to follow Santa Claus minute by minute. At 3:45 PM French time, he had already covered New Zealand, Japanese, South Korean, and Chinese children with gifts. The combination of tradition and technology provides a unique and engaging experience for individuals worldwide, uniting people in the shared spirit of Christmas.

The Norad has been tracking Santa Claus for decades. It all started with a typo in 1955, in an advertisement from the Sears department store chain calling in a local Colorado newspaper to make a phone call to Santa Claus. Intended to be the direct line of the famous bearded man, the number indicated was actually that - in the midst of the Cold War - of the Norad's red telephone. Initially taken aback when he found himself online with a young boy asking him if he was indeed "Santa Claus", the officer on duty that day, Colonel Harry Shoup, got into the game. He instructed his men to disseminate information on Santa Claus's location and even called a local radio station to announce that he had seen a strange object in the sky. Sixty-nine years later, the Norad continues the tradition.

Because politics and the spirit of Christmas generally go well together, the Air Force general wanted to reassure the population affected by drone overflights that have caused panic recently on the American East Coast. "I do not anticipate any difficulty with these drones for Santa Claus this year," said Gregory Guillot. The unwavering commitment to the tradition, and the integration of modern technology, ensures the timeless magic of Christmas continues to captivate generations. This year's event marks yet another successful collaboration between technology and tradition, maintaining a cherished holiday tradition that continues to spread joy globally.