NORAD’s Santa Tracker returns! Here’s how to follow his journey (2024)

FAQs

How does the Norad Santa tracker actually work? ›

Radar. It all starts with the NORAD radar system called the North Warning System. This powerful radar system has 47 installations strung across Canada's North and Alaska. NORAD makes a point of checking the radar closely for indications of Santa Claus leaving the North Pole every holiday season.

Santa Claus made his annual trip from the North Pole on Christmas Eve to deliver presents to children all over the world. And like it does every year, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, known as NORAD, has its official tracker following Santa's journey for Christmas 2023.

NORAD Tracks Santa is an annual Christmas-themed program in which North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) simulates the tracking of Santa Claus, who is said to leave the North Pole to travel around the world on his mission to deliver presents to children every year on Christmas Eve.

People can follow Santa's journey around the world on NORAD's website or they can call the command center at 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723). “Last year alone, NORAD answered over 73,000 calls just on December 24th alone,” Pentagon press secretary Maj.

NORAD has been tracking Santa since 1955 when a young child accidently dialed the unlisted phone number of the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, believing she was calling Santa Claus after seeing a promotion in a local newspaper.

If you think, judging by that white beard and hair, Kris Kringle might be around 70 or 80, the truth is he's far, far older. According to History.com, the monk who over time would evolve into Santa Claus was born in what is now modern-day Turkey in 280 A.D., making him a whopping 1,741 years old!

It is believed that the first Santa Claus was Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas was a monk and therefore did not marry. The Santa Claus that we know lives in the North Pole. According to some North American sources, his original name was Kris Kringle before he changed his name to Santa Claus.

If you are talking about the character that came from the legend of the Saint he is both a man and an elf depending on which legend you believe in.

And the first question after that, in the “People also ask” section, is: “Is Santa real or is it your parents?” The top response comes from the motherhood website Her View From Home. “The answer is no. We are not Santa. There is no one, single Santa.

Just gather round those kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors to call Santa's phone number +1 605-310-4000 and turn the speaker on for all to hear. Then, sit back, smile and listen to the joyful sounds of a new holiday tradition in the making. It's what Santa's Hotline is all about.

Can you still call Norad Santa? ›

Feel free to give them a call at 1 (877) HI-NORAD.

Recent News. NORAD, binational military organization involving the United States and Canada. Established in 1957, with a formal agreement signed in 1958, NORAD is tasked with providing aerospace warning and control—and, since 2006, maritime warning—for the defense of North America.

Krampus, in central European popular legend, a half-goat, half-demon monster that punishes misbehaving children at Christmastime. He is the devilish companion of St. Nicholas. Krampus is believed to have originated in Germany, and his name derives from the German word Krampen, which means “claw.”

Children and families can track Santa's progress online at Official NORAD Tracks Santa beginning December 1 each year. Santa can also be tracked by making a phone call to NORAD (1-877-Hi-NORAD) or the “NORAD Tracks Santa” app.

Both trackers offer unique experiences, with Google focusing more on educational activities and NORAD offering a more immersive tracking experience.

Santa Cams are ultra-cool, high-tech, high-speed digital cameras that are pre-positioned at many locations around the world. NORAD only uses these cameras once a year - Christmas Eve. The cameras capture images and videos of Santa and his Reindeer as they make their journey around the world.

"We use a combination of our North Warning radar systems, military satellites and military aircraft to track Santa around the globe and especially as he enters the North American airspace." Willis said NORAD's chain of radars across Canada and Alaska can detect when Santa leaves the North Pole.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) took over responsibility for tracking Santa in 1958.