What time does NORAD start tracking Santa on Christmas Eve? Are you ready for the magic of Christmas Eve? NORAD's Santa Tracker website is the perfect way to follow Santa's journey as he delivers presents to homes all around the world.
In fact, NORAD's Santa Tracker reports that a total of 7,623,693,263 gifts were delivered last year alone!
But the real excitement starts on the morning of Christmas Eve. Starting at 4 a.m. Eastern on December 24th, NORAD begins tracking Santa and providing updates from around the world. And at 6 a.m. Eastern, you can even call in to find out where Santa is on his journey. In 2021, volunteers took over 53,000 calls, though this is well below the pre-COVID peak of 150,000 calls in 2019. The volunteer staffing had to be reduced in recent years due to pandemic concerns.
But how did this tradition even begin? In 1955, Air Force Col. Harry Shoup, the commander on duty at NORAD's predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command, received a call from a child who had dialed a misprinted telephone number in a newspaper ad for a department store. Thinking she was calling Santa, Col. Shoup quickly assured her that he was indeed Santa and the tradition was born.
Today, most early calls come from Japan and Europe, with calls from the US and Canada increasing as the day goes on. In addition to the phone center and online site, you can also ask Amazon Alexa for Santa's location using the NORAD Tracks Santa skill on December 24th, or use the OnStar service to locate Santa if you are an OnStar subscriber.
NORAD's main objective is to keep an eye on the skies above North America to identify any possible threats. However, on Christmas Eve, they shift their focus to tracking Santa's journey as they use their geostationary satellites above the Earth to monitor his progress. This information is displayed on large screens at the festive command post at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, where volunteers, wearing masks, sit at tables equipped with phones, garland, small Christmas trees, and an ample supply of caffeine-filled candy and coffee (as well as hand sanitizer).
NORAD's military motto is "We Have the Watch," and when it comes to Santa, they add: "Santa calls the shots. We just track him." In fact, last year, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden even joined in the tradition, answering calls to the Santa tracking service.
So mark your calendars for the morning of Christmas Eve and get ready to follow Santa's journey with NORAD's Santa Tracker. It's a tradition that the whole family can enjoy! For more information, please visit our website daily.
In fact, NORAD's Santa Tracker reports that a total of 7,623,693,263 gifts were delivered last year alone!
#1. Follow Santa's Journey with NORAD's Online and Phone Services
Source: Daily Express
But the real excitement starts on the morning of Christmas Eve. Starting at 4 a.m. Eastern on December 24th, NORAD begins tracking Santa and providing updates from around the world. And at 6 a.m. Eastern, you can even call in to find out where Santa is on his journey. In 2021, volunteers took over 53,000 calls, though this is well below the pre-COVID peak of 150,000 calls in 2019. The volunteer staffing had to be reduced in recent years due to pandemic concerns.
#2. Discover the Fascinating History of NORAD's Santa Tracker
Source: Daily Express
But how did this tradition even begin? In 1955, Air Force Col. Harry Shoup, the commander on duty at NORAD's predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command, received a call from a child who had dialed a misprinted telephone number in a newspaper ad for a department store. Thinking she was calling Santa, Col. Shoup quickly assured her that he was indeed Santa and the tradition was born.
#3. Join in the Fun with NORAD's Santa Tracker and Amazon Alexa or OnStar
Source: PBS
Today, most early calls come from Japan and Europe, with calls from the US and Canada increasing as the day goes on. In addition to the phone center and online site, you can also ask Amazon Alexa for Santa's location using the NORAD Tracks Santa skill on December 24th, or use the OnStar service to locate Santa if you are an OnStar subscriber.
#4. Celebrate the Season with NORAD's Festive Command Post and Dedicated Volunteers
Source: WHNT.com
NORAD's main objective is to keep an eye on the skies above North America to identify any possible threats. However, on Christmas Eve, they shift their focus to tracking Santa's journey as they use their geostationary satellites above the Earth to monitor his progress. This information is displayed on large screens at the festive command post at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, where volunteers, wearing masks, sit at tables equipped with phones, garland, small Christmas trees, and an ample supply of caffeine-filled candy and coffee (as well as hand sanitizer).
NORAD's military motto is "We Have the Watch," and when it comes to Santa, they add: "Santa calls the shots. We just track him." In fact, last year, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden even joined in the tradition, answering calls to the Santa tracking service.
So mark your calendars for the morning of Christmas Eve and get ready to follow Santa's journey with NORAD's Santa Tracker. It's a tradition that the whole family can enjoy! For more information, please visit our website daily.