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NORAD’s Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost. Now it attracts millions of kids

The military's tradition of tracking Santa Claus will continue even if the U.S. Government shuts down.
At least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command each year.
Millions of children follow the tracking online in nine languages, including English and Japanese.
The tradition began during the Cold War and was inspired by a misprinted Sears ad, as stated by children on the StoryCorps podcast.

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Straight Arrow News

NORAD's Santa tracker has a history going back nearly 70 years

As midnight approaches on Dec. 25, Santa Claus visits one time zone after another. This is visible on the Santa tracker run by NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command. Starting early in the day on Christmas Eve, the tracker shows Santa Claus zig-zagging to cover the world with gifts in 24 hours. The path travels from east to west as night falls on different parts of the world throughout Dec. 24. The tracker is nearing its 70th annive…

3 months ago

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Toronto Sun

Santa tracker was Cold War morale boost; now it attracts millions of kids

The Christmas tradition has become nearly global in scope: Children from around the world track Santa Claus as he sweeps across the Earth, delivering presents and defying time.

3 months ago·Toronto, Canada

US aerospace agency tracks Santa for millions of kids

A misprinted phone number and a child's call to Santa were the beginnings of a Christmas tradition upheld by the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

3 months ago·Australia

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KXRM

Special Space Force Technology behind NORAD's Santa Tracker

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, in the hopes that St. Nicholas soon will be there… but where exactly is Santa Claus right now? You can find out by checking out the North American Aerospace Defense Command's Santa Tracker, also known as the NORAD Santa Tracker. On Christmas Eve at the NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center, you can find about 1,000 people tracking Santa's every move to report back to the public…

3 months ago

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WVNS

How a wrong number helped launch the Santa Tracker

GHENT, WV (WVNS) -- As people enjoy the holiday season, one Christmas tradition that many look forward to is tracking Santa as he travels across the globe. However, did you know that the Santa Tracker was started because a child accidentally called the wrong number? TRACK SANTA HERE! According to the History Channel's website, the North American Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) website, and the U.S. Department of Defense's website, th…

3 months ago

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svt Nyheter

Here, the military follows Santa Claus – a tradition since 1955

Santa's journey across the firmament during Christmas Eve is followed with precision by American Norad. A tradition that spanned decades and started thanks to a wrong call - from a child. - We've been tracking him since 1955, and he's never had an incident, says William Radiff, Royal Canadian Air Force Major General.

3 months ago·Stockholm, Sweden

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