Why Does NORAD Stalk Santa’s Epic Sleigh Ride Across The Globe?

NORAD, an organization charged with the air defense of the United States and Canada, got into the Santa-tracking business by accident. Instead of turning the calls away, the director of operations, Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff provide radar-tracked updates of Santa’s location. The misdirected call was the result of the child reversing two numbers of a Santa Line phone number printed in a Sears advertisement, according to the ABC News.

Google and Microsoft are continuing their separate Internet holiday traditions that allow children, no matter how grown up they might be, to track Santa online as he makes his way around the world on Christmas Eve.

Yes, Santa Claus is coming to town.

Norad’s Stacey Knott, who has worked with the Norad Santa Tracker for the past three years has said, “We get a lot of calls from Europe, Australia and New Zealand”.

This will be Norad’s 60th year tracking Santa’s whereabouts as he delivers Christmas gifts to children.

Santa has officially begun his annual trek around 10 a.m. UTC on December 24, which is 5 a.m. Eastern/2 a.m. Pacific, which means you can already track Ol’ Saint Nick across the Earth’s skies.

The Colorado-based organization, which stands for North American Aerospace Defense Command, is keeping tabs not only on where Santa and his reindeer are at any given moment around the world, but how many gifts he’s delivered. The agency’s defense support program satellites are capable of tracking even the most minute heat signature against the Earth’s background. Hundreds of volunteers work for 23 hours on the day – and the night – before Christmas. If you have an Android device, you can track Santa’s path on the official Google app, which is also compatible with Chromecast for users who want to view the tracker from their TVs.

For those youngsters who have had a couple of naughty episodes in 2015 they shouldn’t worry, because Santa has a big heart and is compassionate and doesn’t like to see anyone wake up Christmas morning with no presents to open.