As children worldwide eagerly await Christmas morning, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is once again preparing for its annual, and arguably most heartwarming, mission: tracking Santa Claus, The Associated Press reports.
What began as a quirky accident has blossomed into a beloved holiday tradition spanning decades, drawing millions of online followers and thousands of phone calls each year.
While NORAD’s primary function is monitoring the skies for potential threats, including, just last year, the Chinese spy balloon, on Christmas Eve, its focus shifts to the jolly man in red. Volunteers at the Colorado Springs headquarters field an onslaught of calls, not about geopolitical tensions, but rather, questions of a more festive nature. “When is Santa coming to my house?” and “Am I on the naughty or nice list?” are common refrains, punctuated by “screams and giggles and laughter,” as NORAD volunteer Bob Sommers describes it. Sommers, among many, encourages children to get to bed so Santa can complete his deliveries.
The tradition dates back to 1955, a time when Cold War anxieties ran high. A misprinted Sears advertisement, urging children to call Santa, accidentally listed the top-secret phone number of the Continental Air Defense Command, the predecessor to NORAD. When Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up a “red phone” used for emergency calls, he was greeted by a small voice reciting a Christmas wish list. Shoup, upon realizing the mistake, and with phone calls flooding in, decided to play along, a decision that ultimately cemented the unlikely tradition.
In those pre-digital days, NORAD utilized a massive plexiglass map to track unidentified objects. A staff member’s playful drawing of Santa and his sleigh over the North Pole became a permanent fixture, and the tradition was born. This good-natured diversion helped to boost morale during a tense period.
The story of the misprinted ad has faced some scrutiny over the years, with some journalists suggesting a misdial or a slightly different origin. However, the essential story remains compelling: a child’s accidental call sparked a holiday phenomenon. Col. Shoup’s media savvy also contributed to the tradition’s longevity. He recognized the public relations and morale-boosting potential when Santa was sketched on the map and quickly invited public affairs into the effort.
While Santa’s image has been used in various commercial campaigns throughout the years, NORAD’s approach has stood out, melding the traditional magic of Santa with a modern, technological lens.
Today, NORAD’s sophisticated radar systems in Alaska and Canada, collectively known as the northern warning system, are the first to detect Santa’s departure from the North Pole. His journey begins at the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean before heading west, following the cover of night.
This Christmas Eve, anyone can follow Santa’s journey through NORAD’s app or website, www.noradsanta.org. The live tracking begins at 4 a.m. and continues until midnight, mountain standard time. Those wanting to speak directly with a live operator can call 1-877-HI-NORAD between 6 a.m. and midnight.
