NORAD to continue tradition of tracking Santa on Christmas Eve

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The North American Aerospace Defense Command is ready to continue it's annual tradition of tracking Santa's journey on Dec. 24.

"In addition to our day-to-day mission of defending North America, we are proud to carry on the tradition of tracking Santa as he travels along his yuletide flight path," said Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy, commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command in a statement. "The same radars, satellites and interceptors employed on December 24 are used year-round to defend Canadian and American airspace from threats."

Although the defense of Canada and the United States remains NORAD's top priority, every year during the holidays they operate a direct phone line to Santa, bringing joy to children everywhere.

Starting at 2 a.m. Christmas Eve, anyone can call 1-877-HiNORAD (1-877-446-6723) or send an email to noradtrackssanta@outlook.com for Santa's up-to-date location.

Children and families can also visit the NORAD Tracks Santa website, where you can explore the North Pole, play games, read about Santa and learn about NORAD's mission.

The tradition began in 1955 when a local newspaper misprinted a phone number that promised to connect them with Santa himself, according to a release from NORAD.

But instead of reaching "Santa," the phone rang through to the crew commander on duty at the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center, NORAD's predecessor.

The man who picked up the phone, U.S. Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup, quickly understood that there had been a mistake and assured the child that he was Santa. Shoup then assigned a duty officer to continue to answer calls, according to the release. The tradition was born, and continued when NORAD was formed in 1958.