Norad Santa Tracker - How to follow Father Christmas' journey online, on smartphones
CHRISTMAS is just around the corner, with Santa now in the final stages of preparation ahead of his cross-continent parcel delivery tomorrow night. Here’s how to use the Norad Santa Tracker to keep up-to-date with Father Christmas' progress.
GETTY • GOOGLE PLAY STORE
It’s almost here!
As you read this sentence, Santa Claus is likely busy loading his sleigh with the latest gadgets, toys, treats and a few lumps of coal (for the unlucky few on the naughty list).
Thankfully, with the wonders of modern technology there are plenty of ways to track his progress as he speeds around the world tonight, taking single bites of mince pies and leaving coal-coated footprints on your carpet.
Like a pricey courier service, excitable children can track his progress on a map, as the sleighful of presents make their way across the globe towards your chimney.
So, if want to know when your presents are about to be delivered – here is how to use the Norad Santa Tracker to track Santa.
NORAD • GOOGLE PLAY STORE
Norad Santa Tracker
Apple - Android - Windows - Online • Free
For today only the nice people at NORAD, (that’s the North American Aerospace Defence Command), hand over their state-of-the-art satellites so the world can watch the man in red make his way around the round.
The Norad app brings a precise GPS location of Santa's progress and will show you exactly where the jolly fellow is.
This means you can make sure the kids are firmly tucked up in bed long before tumbles down the chimney.
And don’t panic if you haven’t got the latest smartphone or tablet as you can also watch all the action via the Norad Santa Tracker website.
Both the app and website are packed full of games, videos and activities which should help to stop the kids asking, "how much longer 'til Christmas day?"
NORAD, which previously went by Continental Air Defense Command or CONAD, has been tracking the tubby toymaker for more than 60 years.
The tradition started back in 1955 when a local shop advertisement misprinted a phone number for children to dial should they want to reach Santa.
But instead of Father Christmas, the number put the kids straight through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief’s operations 'hotline'.
According to NORAD: "Director of Operations, Colonel Harry Shoup, received the first 'Santa' call and had his staff check radar data to see if there was any indication of Santa making his way south from the North Pole.
"Indeed there were signs of Santa, and children who called in were given an update on Santa’s position.
"Thus, the tradition was born.”
