Colorado Springs, Colorado; December 18th, 2025
The North American Aerospace Defense Command, known as NORAD, is celebrating 70 years of a Christmas Eve tradition that has connected the military with families around the world: tracking Santa Claus as he delivers presents across the globe.
According to an official story released by the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF WAR, the tradition began in 1955 when a newspaper advertisement mistakenly printed the phone number of the Continental Air Defense Command, NORAD’s predecessor, instead of a local Santa hotline. Rather than turning callers away, on-duty personnel chose to play along, telling children where Santa was on his journey.
What began as an unexpected moment of goodwill soon became an annual tradition. When NORAD was formally established in 1958, the command continued the practice, integrating Santa tracking into its Christmas Eve operations. Over the decades, the tradition has grown alongside advances in technology, moving from phone calls and paper maps to radar systems, satellites, and online tracking platforms.
The U.S. DEPARTMENT OF WAR states that NORAD now uses the same aerospace warning systems designed to protect North America to symbolically follow Santa’s route, sharing updates with children and families across the United States, Canada, and around the world. Volunteers, including military personnel and civilian staff, assist in answering calls and responding to messages on Christmas Eve.
Officials note that the tradition serves a dual purpose. While it brings joy to millions of families, it also offers a rare glimpse into NORAD’s mission, highlighting how the command monitors air and space activity around the clock. The Santa tracking effort provides a lighthearted way to demonstrate the capabilities of systems normally tasked with national defense.
Over the years, NORAD’s Santa Tracker has expanded beyond phone calls to include online maps, social media updates, and interactive features, allowing families to follow Santa’s progress in real time. Despite the technological evolution, the heart of the tradition remains the same: a simple effort to bring comfort and excitement to children on Christmas Eve.
The U.S. DEPARTMENT OF WAR emphasized that the program continues to rely on volunteers who donate their time each year, reflecting a spirit of service that extends beyond the command’s military mission. For many participants, volunteering for Santa tracking has become a cherished holiday ritual.
As NORAD marks its 70th year of tracking Santa, officials say the tradition stands as a reminder that even within institutions focused on defense and security, moments of joy, connection, and tradition still matter.
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Sources
Primary First-Hand Sources
- U.S. DEPARTMENT OF WAR — Official story titled “NORAD Celebrates 70 Years of Tracking Santa”
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