Santa making his way around the globe

And don’t panic if you haven’t got the latest smartphone or tablet as you can also watch all the action via the Norad Santa Tracker website.

Santa Claus knows when you have been bad or good, so chat him up now before he rides out with Rudolph and the other reindeer to deliver presents around the world.

The apps: Official NORAD Tracks Santa apps are available in the Windows, Apple and Google Play stores for use on smart phones and tablets.

The NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) tracker is a little different, but ultimately achieves the same goal of tracking Santa on Christmas.

Google once powered NORAD’s Santa tracker, then chose to launch its own 12 years ago. Known as the Continental Aerospace Defense Command at the time, the agency played along with the tykes, and ever since it has helped make sure that everyone knew where old Kris Kringle was at all times on December 25th.

NORAD’s Santa Tracker has been operating since 1955, after an advertisement misprinted the telephone number for kids to call Santa. The number instead rang on CONAD operations’ hotline. “On Dec. 24, we have the special mission of tracking Santa”.

It added, of St Nick’s journey throughout the night: “Santa would never rush the important job of distributing presents to children and spreading holiday cheer to everyone”.

“I love raisin oatmeal cookies”, Santa gushed, of his personal favorite cookie.

“We just don’t get ones that say hey, you know what Santa I’ve been really good, can I please have some food?” People say that the Santa Claus tradition is hard on their wallets, that it only brings disappointment, and that it’s difficult to keep up the charade.

Twitter users can follow along using the hashtag #NORAD, or visit NORAD’s website for more interactive updates.

“Is this Santa Claus?” the child asked haltingly. More children called. Shoup eventually instructed airmen answering the phone to offer Santa’s radar location as he crossed the globe.