It’s finally here. It’s time to track Santa as he travels around the world!
Thanks to the North American Aerospace Defense Command, known as NORAD, you can track Santa as he travels around the world.
NORAD, the U.S. military agency responsible for monitoring and defending the skies over North America, reactivated the Santa tracker as Mr. Claus departed from his home in the Arctic Circle with his reindeer and headed for their first destination, Finland.
The program, which began with a phone crash during the Cold War, is now in its 69th year and has become an annual tradition.
The Colorado Springs, Colorado-based agency’s Santa Tracking service allows people to track their Christmas journey through its website noradsanta.org, social media channels and mobile app.
Who is watching Santa on NORAD?
Every year, volunteers crowd into a conference room at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs and take turns answering calls from eager children to see if Santa and his sleigh have made it to the rooftop.
Every Christmas Eve, at least 100,000 children call to ask about Santa’s whereabouts. Millions more follow us online in 9 languages, from English to Japanese.
In Colorado, where NORAD tracks Santa’s flights, volunteers are manning desks. (NORAD)
How can children call NORAD to find out Santa’s whereabouts?
You can dial NORAD Tracks Santa’s toll-free number, 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723).
While some callers are connected to military personnel, other volunteers and even the president, others receive recordings of updates on Santa’s location.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
With just a little thought about your Christmas tree and its decorations, you can reduce your carbon footprint and give a gift to the planet this holiday season. Learn more about why you should buy a real Christmas tree, why you shouldn’t try to recycle your ornaments, and how one carpenter found a creative way to turn holiday trash into a touching tribute to veterans. Let’s go.
