When will Santa Claus 'arrive' at your home? NORAD's Christmas ...

68th Year Tradition

North American Aerospace Defence Command's (NORAD) Santa Tracker, a cherished tradition spanning 68 years, will return on Christmas Eve, allowing enthusiasts to follow Santa Claus as he delivers gifts worldwide.

Tracking Schedule

NORAD initiates Santa's tracking at 4 a.m. EST on Christmas Eve through its website and app. From 6 a.m. EST, operators are available for children to call toll-free at 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) and get updates on Santa's location.

Historical Origins

The tradition of tracking Santa Claus began in 1955, when a child, intending to call Santa, reached the Continental Air Defence Command (CONAD) Operations Center. Colonel Harry Shoup, on duty, responded and assured the child that he was Santa. This led to the establishment of the annual tracking initiative by the agency.

NORAD's Evolution

Originally under CONAD, the tradition continued when it transformed into NORAD in 1958. The NORAD Tracks Santa website offers a North Pole Village, featuring a countdown to Christmas, games, movie theatre, holiday music, and a web store for kids to cherish and enjoy their Christmas eve.

Multilingual Experience

The NORAD Tracks Santa website is available in nine languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Chinese, and, new this year, Korean. The official NORAD Tracks Santa app is accessible in the Apple App and Google Play stores.

NORAD's Mission

NORAD, a bi-national organization of the U.S. and Canada, primarily focuses on aerospace warning, control, and maritime warning for North America. It actively prevents air attacks and responds to unauthorised air activity.

Christmas Eve  Responsibilities

On Christmas Eve, in addition to its year-round duties, NORAD takes on the mission of tracking Santa Claus, adding a festive touch to its usual responsibilities.

Volunteer Engagement

NORAD relies on volunteers who handle numerous calls and emails from around the world. Volunteers, including military and civilian personnel, work tirelessly to manage inquiries during the 20-hour period from 4 a.m. on December 24 until midnight MST on December 25.

Online Accessibility

NORADSanta.org provides internet users access to the project. It not only simulates Santa's sleigh tracking but also displays the exact number of presents being "delivered" at any given moment on Christmas Eve.

When does Santa arrive?

According to NORAD, hypothetically, Santa Claus only delivers gift to kids who are sleeping between 9 pm to 12 am. If a kid is awake, he moves to the next house.

Utilizing Technology

Since December 2007, NORAD employs Google Analytics to analyze website traffic, allowing the program to project and scale volunteer staffing, telephone equipment, and computer equipment needs for Christmas Eve.