NORAD's 70-year tradition of tracking Santa on Christmas Eve, born from a 1955 mistaken call, involves over 1,000 volunteers, advanced technology, and heartwarming interactions with children and adults worldwide.
For 70 years, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), a joint US-Canadian operation, has maintained its beloved tradition of tracking Santa's journey on Christmas Eve. What began as a mistaken phone call in 1955 to NORAD's predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command, has evolved into a massive annual operation. Over 1,000 volunteers at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs answer calls to 1-877-HI-NORAD from 4 a.m. to midnight MST, reassuring children and adults about Santa's progress. This year, a new website feature allows global Santa seekers to track him in nine languages. NORAD utilizes its regular threat-monitoring technology—radar, satellites, and jets—to follow Santa, with Rudolph's nose even providing a missile-like heat signature. The tradition started when Colonel Harry Shoup, the commander on duty, chose to play along with a child's call to Santa, reportedly due to a misprinted Sears advertisement. Despite some historical debate about the exact origin, Shoup himself confirmed playing along in a 1999 interview. The program handles a wide range of calls, from children worried about Santa finding them to those concerned about his safety, like the girl who feared Santa was trapped on the International Space Station. NORAD's staff, like Michelle Martin, even explain Santa's 'faster than starlight' speed to callers, continuing a heartwarming legacy that reassures millions worldwide.
