As Christmas Eve approaches, excitement fills the air, and children eagerly peer out the window, hoping for a glimpse of Santa. Instead of letting them stare into the darkness, why not let them “track” Santa’s journey online with help from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)?
Kids can visit the dedicated NORAD website at noradsanta.org starting at 2:01 a.m. EST on December 24 to see Santa’s precise location. In 2021, the website attracted a staggering 22 million unique visitors! For those on the go, Santa can also be tracked through apps available on iPhone, Android, and Windows devices. Plus, updates will be shared across social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, so children can follow Santa’s journey in real time.
If your little ones feel anxious waiting for updates online, they can even call NORAD’s headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado, starting at 6 a.m. EST, to chat with one of the many volunteers. Although we won’t provide specific contact information here, you can easily find it on the NORAD website.
The tradition of tracking Santa dates back to 1955 when a misprinted ad for Sears Roebuck & Co. led children to call the CONAD Commander-in-Chief’s operations hotline. Colonel Harry Shoup, who was in charge at the time, had his team check radar for signs of Santa flying south from the North Pole. A few years later, NORAD took over this delightful responsibility, and since then, dedicated volunteers have made it their mission to track Santa for children around the world. As NORAD spokesperson Jenna Forester noted, “This is only possible due to the incredible support of military and community members.”
In a record-breaking year, over 1,400 hotline volunteers answered an astonishing 154,192 calls during the Santa tracking event, which averages out to 1.8 calls per second! While kids enjoy following Santa, NORAD also reminds them that “He’ll only visit your house if you’re in bed and asleep.”
For families interested in furthering their holiday spirit, you might enjoy exploring our other blog posts, such as this one on home insemination or checking out resources like Cleveland Clinic’s podcast on pregnancy topics. And for those looking to expand their family, consider the insight offered by Cryobaby for at-home insemination kits, which can be a wonderful addition to your journey.
In summary, tracking Santa has become a beloved tradition that not only brings joy to children but also creates lasting memories for families. With the help of NORAD, the magic of Christmas Eve is just a click or call away!