How NORAD has tracked Santa for 70 years
A long-running public outreach program connects a bi-national defense command with families worldwide each Christmas Eve.
For 70 years, NORAD has tracked Santa’s Christmas Eve journey, providing location updates to families worldwide through official phone lines and online platforms.
The tradition is coordinated by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, a joint U.S.–Canadian military organization headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Each year on Dec. 24, volunteers staff call centers and digital systems to respond to inquiries across multiple time zones.
What began in the 1950s as a phone-based novelty has grown into a large-scale public information operation, now featuring live maps, videos, and multilingual access.
Its longevity reflects continued public reliance on verified, official sources during one of the year’s highest-traffic online events.
How Tracking Santa Began in 1955
The tradition dates back to 1955, when a newspaper advertisement mistakenly printed a phone number that routed children’s calls to the Continental Air Defense Command, NORAD’s predecessor.
Rather than redirecting callers, personnel answered the phones and provided informal location updates, turning a routine military watch shift into an unexpected Christmas Eve activity.
At the time, the Continental Air Defense Command was responsible for monitoring North American airspace during the early Cold War period, when round-the-clock vigilance was routine.
The lighthearted response to the calls quickly gained attention and became an annual practice.
When NORAD was formally established in 1958 as a joint U.S.–Canada command, it inherited the tradition and continued it as part of its public outreach efforts.
Christmas Eve 2025 Tracking Details and Official Updates
For 2025, NORAD says its Santa tracking operations will run throughout Dec. 24, with live operators available from 4 a.m. to midnight Mountain Standard Time.
Families can reach the program through the official hotline, 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723), as well as through online tracking tools and web-based calling options.
NORAD directs the public to its official tracking Santa website as the primary source for live maps, videos, and program information.
The site is updated regularly on Christmas Eve and is designed to handle high global traffic.
NORAD has also said its call center can support multiple languages through translation services, reflecting the international reach of the annual event.
NORAD’s Defense Mission Beyond Santa Tracking
Outside the holiday season, NORAD’s standing responsibilities include aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning for North America.
These missions involve monitoring air and sea approaches to the continent, detecting and validating potential threats from aircraft, missiles, and maritime activity, and sharing real-time information with national decision-makers in both the United States and Canada.
NORAD operates continuously, with personnel on duty around the clock, regardless of season.
The Santa tracking program is described as a temporary public outreach initiative that runs alongside routine operations.
Officials have consistently said the holiday activity does not disrupt, delay, or replace NORAD’s core defense mission.
Questions People Are Asking
What is NORAD tracking Santa?
It is a Christmas Eve public outreach program that shares Santa’s reported location through official NORAD platforms.
When does NORAD start tracking Santa?
Live tracking and phone support are scheduled to begin at 4 a.m. Mountain Standard Time on Dec. 24.
What phone number does NORAD use for tracking Santa?
NORAD lists 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723).
When did the tradition start?
The practice began in 1955 and continued under NORAD after its creation in 1958.
Does the program affect NORAD’s defense work?
No. It operates independently of NORAD’s aerospace and maritime warning duties.
Why NORAD Tracking Santa Remains a Trusted Tradition
The 70th year of NORAD tracking Santa underscores how a defense organization has sustained a trusted, high-visibility public service across generations.
Families, educators, and communities worldwide rely on the program for accurate, centralized information on Christmas Eve, when online traffic and misinformation risks are at their highest.
The tradition’s continued relevance reflects the public value of verified, official sources during peak digital demand.
As the program moves forward, attention will focus on how NORAD continues to expand online access and multilingual support while maintaining clarity, reliability, and public trust.
