NORAD helps children keep track of Santa Claus on Christmas eve

Now you can track Santa through US military's Santa tracker, NORAD.

IndiaToday.in  | Written by Ekta Handa
December 25, 2017 | UPDATED 00:18 IST
Screenshot from NORADs Santa trackerScreenshot from NORAD's Santa tracker

As the world awaits the arrival of a saint dressed in red, US military helps children track Santa Claus through NORAD.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is ready to track an old man on a sleigh and his eight reindeers as they make their way across the world to distribute presents.

The public can access Santa's whereabouts on NORAD's official website and watch Santa Claus undertake his journey.

Marine Col. Bob Brodie of the 601st Air Operations Center also said that fighter jets will "fly along (Santa's) wing" in a "close escort", the CNN reported.

A tweet on NORAD's official Twitter account also reveals the way NORAD keeps a track of Santa's movements.

This tradition of tracking Santa began in 1955, when a newspaper advertisement misprinted the phone number of commander in chief's operations hotline at the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) as the number which children can call to find out about Santa's whereabouts. CONAD was NORAD's predecessor.

On duty that night was Col. Harry Shoup, who instead of hanging up on kids, answered hundreds of calls and updated the children about Santa's location. The tradition still continues 62 years later. NORAD has also shared a helpline number (1-877-HI-NORAD or 1-877-446-6723) where children can call and know about Santa's location.