 "This image provided by NORAD — the North American Aerospace Defense Command, responsible for monitoring and defending the skies above North America — shows NORAD's Santa Tracker. File Image/AP")
For nearly 70 years, a unique holiday tradition has captivated the imaginations of children and families worldwide: tracking Santa Claus as he journeys across the globe delivering gifts.
This beloved initiative is spearheaded by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), an organisation more commonly known for its critical role in monitoring aerospace threats.
But on Christmas Eve, its radars, satellites, and volunteers are put to work tracking the most magical figure of the season.
How this festive tradition was born
The origins of Norad’s Santa Tracker trace back to an unlikely and heartwarming incident in 1955. At the height of the Cold War, Colonel Harry Shoup, then director of operations at the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), received an unusual call on a top-secret phone line.
A child’s voice asked, “Is this Santa Claus?” Initially taken aback, Shoup soon realised the child had mistakenly dialed the number printed in a local Sears ad encouraging kids to call Santa. Displaying quick thinking and a sense of humour, he responded with a hearty “Ho-ho-ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?”
The calls didn’t stop there. Due to a misprint in the newspaper, children’s Christmas wishes continued pouring in. Shoup, embracing the spirit of the season, instructed his team to answer the calls as Santa.
In an ingenious move, he even contacted a local radio station, announcing that CONAD had identified an “unidentified flying object” resembling a sleigh. Thus, a global tradition was born.
The original story, though heartwarming, has not been without its sceptics. Some journalists have questioned whether it was a misprint or a misdial that prompted the call. Others have pointed to variations in how Shoup himself recounted the tale over the years. Regardless, his quick thinking and festive cheer have left an indelible mark on the holiday season.
How Norad tracks Santa
In 1958, CONAD transitioned into Norad, and the Santa Tracker tradition carried on, growing in scale and sophistication with each passing year. What began as a local holiday gimmick has since evolved into a global phenomenon.
Today, millions of children and adults worldwide participate in tracking Santa’s journey. In 2022 alone, volunteers at Norad’s Peterson Space Force Base fielded 78,000 calls from excited kids asking for updates on Santa’s location.
The operation now involves an extensive setup, beginning every December 1. Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that Norad’s radar systems in Alaska and Canada — part of the northern warning system — first detect Santa as he leaves the North Pole.
From there, Norad’s satellites equipped with infrared sensors track the heat emanating from Rudolph’s glowing red nose. “A little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose emits a significant heat signature, making it easy for us to track Santa’s sleigh,” Cunningham told AP.
Norad’s tracking also involves a plexiglass map tradition that dates back to the 1950s. During those early years, staff members would humorously sketch Santa’s sleigh on the map, symbolically marking his progress.
Today, cutting-edge technology has replaced the old plexiglass maps, but the whimsy and joy remain unchanged.
How you can follow Santa every year
Modern technology has taken the Santa Tracker to new heights. Norad’s website, www.noradsanta.org , goes live every December 1, offering real-time updates on Santa’s progress starting at 6 am ET on Christmas Eve.
Families can also follow along through the Norad Santa Tracker app, available on both Apple and Google Play stores. The experience includes interactive games, videos, and a countdown to Santa’s departure from the North Pole.
For those preferring a more traditional approach, Norad’s hotline at 1-877-HI-NORAD is staffed by volunteers ready to answer questions about Santa’s whereabouts from 8 am to 2 am ET on Christmas Day. In addition to Norad’s efforts, Google also offers its own Santa tracker with games and updates, adding to the holiday magic.
Norad’s tracking has a uniquely immersive element: fighter jets often “intercept” Santa’s sleigh as it enters US airspace. Pilots tip their wings in greeting, and Santa — ever the jovial traveller — waves back. “When the jets intercept Santa, they tip their wings to say, ‘Hello Santa. Norad is tracking you again this year,’” a Norad spokesperson explained.
How Santa delivers gifts around the globe
One of the most enduring questions is how Santa manages to deliver gifts to millions of children worldwide in just one night. According to Norad, the only logical explanation is that Santa operates within a unique time-space continuum.
“Santa does not experience time the way we do,” the agency notes. “His journey might take 24 hours for us, but to him, it could last days, weeks, or even months.”
This explanation adds a touch of scientific intrigue to Santa’s age-old tale. As historian Gerry Bowler, author of “Santa Claus: A Biography,” told AP in 2010 that, Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, Norad, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa’s story and views it through a technological lens.
A legacy of joy
The Santa Tracker tradition is not just about high-tech tracking but also about spreading joy and fostering a sense of wonder. For Shoup’s family, it remains a cherished legacy.
“I always wore a t-shirt that had a picture of my dad. It says: ‘My dad’s the Santa Colonel’,” Sky News quoted his daughter Terri Van Keuren, who recalls volunteering as a Santa Tracker operator herself for 10 years.
Shoup’s children continue to receive letters from people around the world thanking their father for his contribution to holiday cheer.
In addition to fostering holiday joy, the Santa Tracker highlights the importance of volunteerism. Each year, over 1,000 volunteers dedicate their time to fielding phone calls, managing the website, and ensuring the operation runs smoothly. Their efforts ensure that millions of families can share in the magic of Christmas.
With inputs from agencies