Where Is He Now? NORAD Tracking Santa

Get the cookies and milk ready because Santa Claus and his reindeer are already on their way around the world with a sleigh full of toys and goodies.

For millions of Americans and people around the world, no Christmas Eve is complete without tracking the whereabouts of Old Saint Nick on his journey around the world. But remember that he won’t visit homes if anyone is awake and it’s best to leave him some mince pies and milk (or maybe whisky, ask mam and dad first).

NORAD Tracks Santa began in 1955 when a newspaper ad listed the wrong phone number for kids to call Santa.

The Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, didn’t turn the children away.

If you don’t want to sit in front of a computer, NORAD also has apps for iOS, Android and Windows. And since he’s a thoroughly modern Santa, you can also track his path through apps, at NORAD’s Facebook page or by emailing noradtrackssanta@outlook.com.

CONAD officers played along, and word spread that this Cold War military command charged with guarding the US against an attack by the Soviet Union was also telling kids where Santa was.

Google’s service on Wednesday offered a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes preparations for Santa’s flight, along with Christmas traditions around the world.

According to the Google Santa tracker, Santa is now over the Solomon Islands to the east of Papua New Guinea, 14,900 kms from Ireland – and moving fast.

NORAD will staff 157 phone lines with volunteers, who will answer an estimated 125,000 calls from children around the globe looking for Santa.

The online Christmas celebration includes games such as Santa Selfie, videos and the all-important live Santa tracker, which features Google Maps’ technology. NORAD took over the tracking of Santa Claus.