Track Santa's magical journey live with NORAD and Flightradar24
Santa Claus has begun his annual journey with gifts. Flightradar24, a popular flight-tracking website, can track his route.
Santa Claus has set out on his yearly mission to deliver presents to children around the world. The Flightradar24 website allows you to track his route.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is monitoring Santa Claus's sleigh journey for the 69th time. This tradition started in 1955 when Colonel Harry Shoup received a call from a child who wanted to speak to Santa. Despite his initial surprise, Shoup chose to play Santa.
The tradition of tracking Santa's route
Before Christmas Eve in 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 attacks by "those who do not believe in Christmas," referring to the Soviet Union.
Thus 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. The NORAD Tracks Santa website updates Santa's current location every 15 minutes.
The operation includes the assistance of 1,250 volunteers who answer phone calls from children worldwide. Last year, the site was visited by 15 million people from 200 countries.
