Every year, the joint US-Canadian military monitoring agency, NORAD, continues its decades-long Christmas tradition of tracking Santa Claus’s whereabouts. This heartwarming initiative aims to help children around the globe find out when Santa’s reindeer-powered, present-filled sleigh is coming to town. The NORAD Santa tracker dates back to 1955 when a Colorado newspaper advertisement misdirected children seeking to connect with Santa to the military nerve center hotline. To prevent disappointment, Colonel Harry Shoup, NORAD’s director of operations at the time, ordered his staff to check the radar and update the children on Santa’s location. This innocent mistake has now become a cherished tradition spanning 68 years.
NORAD’s Santa tracker has evolved over the years and now provides users with a 3-D, interactive website at www.noradsanta.org. The website showcases Santa Claus and his reindeer on their imagined worldwide delivery route. Users can click on different locations along the way to learn more about the various cities and countries Santa visits. This immersive experience brings the magic of Christmas to life and captivates children and adults alike.
NORAD is dedicated to spreading joy during the holiday season and goes to great lengths to ensure that children’s burning questions are answered. To accomplish this, NORAD sets up a temporary call center at its Colorado headquarters. Rows of volunteers, some in uniform and others wearing red Santa caps, answer phones and provide updates on Santa’s location.
This year, even top-level US dignitaries including President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden participated in the North American Aerospace Defense Command Santa tracking calls with children and families across the country. Their involvement underscores the significance of this beloved tradition and the joy it brings to people of all ages.
For most of Santa’s journey, children can follow along on the NORAD Santa tracker website. However, there was a momentary glitch earlier this year when the tracker unexpectedly went down, leaving children in the Pacific region in the dark about Santa’s exact position. NORAD swiftly addressed the technical difficulties and assured everyone that Santa was still on his way. This minor hiccup only served to heighten the excitement and anticipation among children eagerly awaiting Santa’s arrival.
According to the NORAD Santa tracker, Father Christmas began his journey with an out-of-this-world first stop, the International Space Station orbiting Earth. From there, his reindeer-pulled sleigh was seen traveling across various destinations. Santa traversed Israel, crossed over southern Gaza, criss-crossed Africa, and ventured southward to Palmer Station, a research facility in Antarctica. Afterward, Santa set his sights on South America, bound for the United States.
Throughout his journey, Santa unloads approximately 100,000 gifts every second, amounting to a staggering total of about 4.9 billion presents as of 0130 GMT Monday, according to the tracker. This remarkable feat showcases Santa’s dedication and tireless efforts to bring joy and happiness to children all over the world.
While the NORAD Santa tracker brings holiday cheer, it is essential to recognize the organization’s primary functions. NORAD conducts aerospace and maritime control and warning operations, including monitoring for missile launches from North Korea. As Santa passes over this region, the recent ICBM test may be on his mind. The juxtaposition of this serious responsibility with the lightheartedness of tracking Santa underscores the multifaceted nature of NORAD’s operations and its commitment to global security.
The NORAD Santa tracker continues to capture the imagination of children and adults alike, providing a unique and immersive experience that spreads joy during the holiday season. With its interactive website, temporary call center, and participation from various individuals including President Joe Biden, this cherished tradition brings smiles to millions of faces worldwide. As NORAD combines its commitment to global security with the joy of tracking Santa, it reminds us of the importance of both protecting and cherishing the magic of Christmas.
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