Santa's sleigh: Live track his merry journey with NORAD
Santa Claus has begun his annual journey with gifts. Flightradar24, a popular flight-tracking website, can help you track your route.
Santa Claus has set out on his annual journey to deliver presents to children worldwide. The Flightradar24 website allows you to track his route.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is tracking Santa Claus's sleigh journey for the 69th time. This tradition began in 1955 when Colonel Harry Shoup received a call from a child wanting to speak to Santa. Despite his initial surprise, Shoup decided to play the role of Santa.
The tradition of tracking Santa's route
Before Christmas Eve 1955, the AP agency reported, "Santa Claus Friday was assured safe passage into the United States by the Continental Air Defense Command.” The agency’s reporter added that the American military would protect Santa’s sleigh from possible threats by "those who do not believe in Christmas," referring to the Soviet Union.
This began the tradition of "tracking" Santa's route by NORAD.
Every year on December 24, NORAD announces the takeoff of the sleigh from the North Pole. On the NORAD Tracks Santa website, Santa's current location can be checked every 15 minutes.
The operation involves 1,250 volunteers who answer phone calls from children worldwide. Last year, the site was visited by 15 million people from 200 countries.
