Tracking Santa Live as NORAD Maps His Magical Christmas Eve Journey
Every Christmas Eve, one familiar question seems to echo in homes around the world: where is Santa right now? And once again in 2025, that curiosity has been answered through a beloved tradition that has been going strong for seven decades. NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, has been tracking Santa Claus in real time as he makes his legendary journey across the globe, delivering gifts and holiday cheer.
It all begins at the North Pole, where Santa’s sleigh is spotted lifting off into the night sky. From there, his route is carefully followed using the same advanced technology normally reserved for protecting North American airspace. Satellites, radar systems, and expert monitoring are all put to festive use, allowing Santa’s location to be displayed on a live, constantly updating map. The path he takes is not always predictable, but that’s part of the magic.
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This year, Santa’s journey started by heading down the International Date Line over the Pacific Ocean. His first stops were made in the South Pacific, New Zealand, and Australia, before he zigzagged through Asia, passing China and Russia. From there, the sleigh was tracked across the Near East and Africa, then onward into Europe. After crossing the Atlantic, Santa made his way through Canada, the United States, Mexico, and finally Central and South America, wrapping up one very long night of work.
NORAD experts explain that Santa typically visits homes between 9 p.m. and midnight local time on Christmas Eve. However, no exact arrival time can ever be given for individual houses. As they like to remind everyone, only Santa truly knows his route, and historically, he seems to arrive only when children are fast asleep.
Adding to the tradition this year, the U.S. president and first lady joined in by answering calls from children who dialed the NORAD Santa Tracker hotline. Kids eagerly asked how Santa is tracked and when he would arrive, and they were reassured that Santa was doing just fine and would be bringing plenty of presents along the way.
The story behind this tradition is just as charming as the tracker itself. It all began back in 1955, when a misprinted phone number in a newspaper ad accidentally connected children to a military command center instead of Santa. Rather than turning the kids away, the officers played along, and a holiday tradition was born. When NORAD was formed a few years later, the practice was continued.
Today, thousands of volunteers help answer calls, respond to messages, and keep the Santa Tracker running smoothly. For one night each year, serious military technology is transformed into something magical, reminding everyone that even in a high-tech world, a little wonder can still be shared.
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