The magic of Christmas lies not only in gifts and decorations, but also in the worldwide tradition of tracking Santa Claus. Every Christmas Eve, millions of children and adults eagerly follow Santa Claus’ journey as he distributes gifts around the globe, defying time zones and the laws of physics. Although this tradition may seem rooted in myth, it has taken on new life in the digital age thanks to NORAD and Google and is a popular ritual for people of all ages.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and Google track Santa Claus’ journey around the world and inform his millions of enthusiastic followers about his location.

A false election in the Cold War that started it all

The origins of the Santa Claus chase date back to 1955 under unlikely circumstances. During the Cold War, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), which later became NORAD, was responsible for monitoring U.S. airspace for threats. One Christmas, a misprinted ad from Sears urged children to call Santa Claus directly – but instead a little boy dialed CONAD’s emergency number.

Colonel Harry Shoup, who answered the call, initially thought it was a prank. But when the child began reciting a Christmas wish list, Shoup realized this was no ordinary call. Shoup seized the moment and responded with a hearty “Ho, ho, ho!” Yes, I am Santa Claus. Were you a good boy?”

The mistake turned into a new holiday tradition as more and more children called, and CONAD workers soon plotted Santa’s path on a large map of North America and used the agency’s radar to track his journey. The next day, the media reported that Santa was “safe and secure,” and so the NORAD Tracks Santa program was born. For nearly 70 years, NORAD has answered millions of calls from excited children asking, “Where is Santa Claus?”

Volunteer spirit at NORAD

The tradition has only grown since its humble beginnings. On Christmas Eve, volunteers from across the United States gather at NORAD headquarters in Colorado Springs to answer questions such as: “When is Santa Claus coming to my house?” and: “Am I on the naughty or nice list?”

Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and volunteer with NORAD, remembers the joy of answering those calls. “There are screams, giggles and laughter,” he said. “And when I tell kids they need to sleep before Santa comes, parents often say, ‘Do you hear that, kids? We have to go to bed early!’”

NORAD uses a combination of radar, satellites and Santa’s glowing reindeer nose (which emits enough heat to be tracked by infrared sensors) to track Santa’s every move. The process begins early on Christmas Eve, when NORAD’s systems in Alaska and Canada first detect Santa Claus as he leaves the North Pole. Once it crosses the international date line, real-time tracking begins, and volunteers from around the world are ready to provide updates.

“Santa’s journey is exciting,” said Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham. “It is the most joyful mission we have every year.”

NORAD has an app and website, www.noradsanta.org, that can track Santa Claus from 4 a.m. to midnight (Mountain Standard Time) on Christmas Eve. From 6 a.m. to midnight (Mountain Time), people can call 1-877-HI-NORAD Live to ask live staff for Santa Klaus’ location.

Google Santa Tracker

As technology evolved, so did the ways people could track Santa Claus. In 2004, Google launched its own Santa Tracker, inspired by NORAD’s efforts. Originally launched as part of the Google Earth platform, it grew in popularity and attracted millions of visitors each year. The Service includes interactive features such as games, educational content and holiday-themed activities.

The Google Santa Tracker launches at midnight UTC on Christmas Eve and tracks Santa Claus’ journey around the world. Users can view a live map showing Santa’s progress while interacting with fun features like holiday-themed games and activities. In addition to tracking Santa, Google’s platform also provides real-time updates on the number of gifts delivered and the cities Santa visits.

“We wanted to give people a way to visualize where Santa Claus is in real time,” said Google spokeswoman Sarah Kelleher. “It’s fun for all ages and we’re proud to continue this tradition, just as NORAD has done for decades.”

As the big night approaches, millions of children will be eagerly following Santa’s progress thanks to the efforts of NORAD and Google. Whether you’re a believer or just looking for some holiday cheer, following Santa’s journey is a fun and festive tradition that’s sure to put a smile on your face.