How a Misdialed Phone Call Led to NORAD’s Iconic Global Santa Tracker Tradition

Every Christmas Eve, countless children eagerly follow Santa Claus’s journey as he distributes gifts across the globe. What many are unaware of is that this cherished custom of tracking Santa originated accidentally due to a wrong phone number in 1955, which resulted in the establishment of the contemporary NORAD Santa Tracker.

The tale began in December 1955 when Sears Roebuck and Co. published an advertisement in a Colorado Springs newspaper, inviting children to dial “Santa’s private line” to converse directly with him. However, the number provided was incorrect, and instead of reaching Santa, the calls were redirected to the Continental Air Defence Command (CONAD), a United States and Canadian military organization responsible for monitoring the airspace.

Colonel Harry Shoup, the officer on duty, answered one of those calls and was taken aback to hear a young boy requesting to speak with Santa. Upon realizing the error, Colonel Shoup chose to go along with it, replying, “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy? ” His swift action turned what might have been a confusion into a delightful moment.

As more children called in, Colonel Shoup directed his team to offer updates on Santa’s whereabouts, inadvertently initiating the first-ever “Santa Tracker. ”

The following year, CONAD evolved into NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command), yet the tradition persisted. By 1958, NORAD officially took on the task, employing its radar and satellite technology to monitor Santa’s journey. What commenced as an impromptu act flourished into a beloved worldwide tradition.

For many years, NORAD volunteers answered thousands of calls from children keen to learn Santa’s location. In 1997, NORAD transitioned the experience online, launching the initial Santa tracking website. This advancement enabled families worldwide to track Santa’s journey in real-time.

Currently, NORAD’s Santa Tracker utilizes cutting-edge technology, including satellite imagery, GPS, and social media, to keep the public informed of Santa’s movements. According to NORAD, approximately 15 million individuals from over 200 nations visit their website annually, and volunteers continue to handle more than 130,000 calls to the Santa hotline.

Santa’s journey commences at the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean. He travels west, beginning in the South Pacific, before proceeding to New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, and ultimately crossing the Atlantic to reach North and South America. NORAD takes its responsibility seriously, even sending out jet fighters such as F-15s, F-16s, and F-22s to accompany Santa through North American airspace.

“In the majority of countries, it appears Santa arrives between 9 pm and midnight on December 24th,” NORAD states. “If children are still awake when Santa arrives, he proceeds to other homes. He returns later, but only when the children are asleep! ”