Mishall RehmanFor the 61st year, NORAD is once again ready to track Santa and spread holiday cheer to children all around the world. Starting Dec. 1, children and adults alike can enjoy The NORAD Tracks Santa website.
The website features Santa’s North Pole Village including a variety of games, activities and a holiday countdown and can be accessed in eight different languages including: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Chinese.
Then, starting at 2:01 a.m. EST on Dec. 24, you can tune in and watch Santa make preparations for his flight through NORAD’s “Santa Cams.” Starting at 6 a.m. EST, trackers around the world can dial in and speak with a live phone operator to inquire as to Santa’s whereabouts by dialling the toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) or by sending an email to [email protected].
“NORAD Tracks Santa is truly a global experience, delighting generations of families everywhere. This is due, in large part, to the efforts and services of numerous program contributors,” stated a press release from National Defence/ Canadian Armed Forces.
The program started in 1955 when a local advertisement misprinted the number where children could call Santa directly. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone call went to the Crew Commander on duty at the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center. Ever since then NORAD has carried on the tradition.
Visit The NORAD Tracks Santa website here. You can also track Santa through the NORAD Tracks Santa apps available through Windows, Apple and Google Play stores. Or, track through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Google+ by typing in @noradsanta.
On Dec. 24, Windows phone users can ask Cortana for Santa’s location, and OnStar subscribers can press the OnStar button in their vehicles to locate Santa.
