Track Santa –> Here.
For more than 50 years, NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa’s flight.
The tradition began in 1955 after a Colorado Springs-based Sears Roebuck & Co. advertisement misprinted the telephone number for children to call Santa. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone number put kids through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief’s operations “hotline.” The Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Children who called were given updates on his location, and a tradition was born.
In 1958, the governments of Canada and the United States created a bi-national air defense command for North America called the North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as NORAD, which then took on the tradition of tracking Santa.
Since that time, NORAD men, women, family and friends have selflessly volunteered their time to personally respond to phone calls and emails from children all around the world. In addition, we now track Santa using the internet. Millions of people who want to know Santa’s whereabouts now visit the NORAD Tracks Santa website.
Finally, media from all over the world rely on NORAD as a trusted source to provide updates on Santa’s journey.
In Memory of Retired Colonel Harry Shoup, NORAD’s First Santa Tracker
September 29, 1917 – March 14, 2009
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appearedand the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend!
He knows our need-to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His Name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy Name!
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!
Previous:
The Little Drummer Boy – 12/1
I Saw Three Ships – 12/2
Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful) – 12/3
White Christmas – 12/4
Angels We Have Heard on High (Gloria in Exelsis Deo) – 12/5
We Three Kings – 12/6
Joy to the World- 12/7
Christmas Eve – Sarajevo- 12/8
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) – 12/9
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – 12/10
Mary Did You Know>- 12/11
Twelve Days of Christmas – 12/12
Hark the Herald Angels Sing – 12/13
The Holly and the Ivy – 12/14
Away in a Manger – 12/15
Ding Dong Merrily on High – 12/16
We Wish You a Merry Christmas – 12/17
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – 12/18
Carol of the Bells – 12/19
Do You Hear What I Hear? – 12/20
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear – 12/21
Silver Bells – 12/22
Silent Night – 12/23