Christmas Eve Tracking Reports

NORAD Santa Tracker

In the 1950s, the North America Air Defense Command (NORAD), a collaboration of Canada and United States air defense, started tracking Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. Volunteers at the Santa Tracking Operations Center field phone calls, e-mails, and update the website with reports of Santa Claus making his rounds.

The NORAD group tracks Santa in four ways:

1. Radar tracking
2. Satellites with infrared heat sensors
3. Santa Cam (captures video and still images of Santa and his reindeer around the world)
4. NORAD jet fighter, which takes off from Newfoundland to greet Santa as he comes to North America

To track Santa’s progress on Christmas Eve, an internet tracking map marks where Santa sightings have been, complete with video in some cases. The map is available in 2-D or 3-D.

To get updates on Santa’s progress, children can also call 1-877-Hi-NORAD to keep posted on what is being seen on the NORAD Santa tracker.

NASA Christmas Eve Tracking Reports

The NASA program (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) also keeps track of Santa’s activities on Christmas Eve. Special arrangements were made with the North Pole so that NASA could tie into the NPCRS (North Pole Christmas Report System).

Santa keeps his NN Report, the Naughty/Nice Report, updated so that he is ready to go on Christmas Eve. By tapping into NASA’s Santa Tracker, children and adults watch a map of the world as Santa goes about his business. Get updates and announcements from the North Pole by reading the banner at the bottom of the map.

Other Ways to Track Santa

Radio stations and news programs often have a Santa tracking segment. The Christmas Eve tracking report is often given during the weather segment. Forecasters will often find Santa and his reindeer on their weather maps and radar. They make sure to give a weather report so Santa knows what to expect when he arrives in each town.

The popular search engine Google also has a Santa tracker. It will be underway December 2007.

SantaSpeaking.com offers children a way to check Santa’s pre-flight plan and watch a “live” broadcast of his departure. Some services cost extra, such as getting a cell phone call from Santa, so parental supervision on this website is recommended.

Year-Round Santa Updates

To keep abreast of the situation at the North Pole, Santa Claus himself often provides updates on a blog or two that he updates regularly. After all, he knows children want to know what’s going on with his reindeer, elves, and workshop. Even someone as old as Santa has gotten up with the various technologies to keep everyone updated on his life.

Get updates on Santa’s trip around the world by signing up to receive Official Santa Email. If you are not 13-years-old, be sure to have your parents’ permission before entering your information into the website. An e-mail from MindComet Internet Properties will arrive in either your inbox or your junk mail, depending on how your filters are set. Click on the link provided to confirm your address and await your first e-mail from Santa regarding his progress.

Santa Claus has also joined the masses in creating his own blog. Check out his updates on how things are going at the North Pole at Santa Claus Blog. At the time of this article, Santa was dealing with a strike from the Elves Union and had just returned from vacationing in Maui. However, do not fear, because Santa feels all should be resolved in time for Christmas. Check out the links at the right for polls, press releases, profile information, and more. Click “Track My Christmas Eve Travels” to be taken to NORAD’s map of his route.

Getting Christmas Eve tracking reports makes the entire holiday experience more festive for everyone in the family. Santa Claus cannot leave presents if all the children are awake, so leave out the milk and cookies and put the children to bed so he can make his delivery!