Every Christmas Eve, children across the United States, Canada, and beyond share a time-honored tradition: tracking Santa Claus as he delivers presents worldwide. With NORAD—North American Aerospace Defense Command—at the helm, families eagerly watch Santa's journey, ensuring their kids are in bed before he arrives to avoid being skipped over.
For decades, NORAD has used cutting-edge technology, including radar, satellites, and aircraft, to follow Santa's sleigh as it leaves the North Pole and travels around the world. What began as a serendipitous phone call in 1955 has now evolved into a high-tech holiday spectacle that families can access on desktop computers, smartphone apps, or by calling 877-HI-NORAD.
Santa's route, famously pulled by eight tiny reindeer (nine, if you count Rudolph with his iconic glowing red nose), is available for families in multiple languages, making the tradition more inclusive than ever. This accessibility is made possible through a partnership with Interpreters Unlimited Inc., a San Diego-based company with an office in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where NORAD is headquartered.
The organization's network of over 10,000 interpreters helps ensure that children worldwide can enjoy Santa's journey in their native languages. "When the kids see where Santa is, they can see it in their language," explained Shamus Sayed, vice president of Interpreters Unlimited. "Inclusion and visibility are so important."
NORAD spokesperson Becky Farmer emphasized the global nature of the effort. "Santa tracking is a worldwide tradition," she said. "So we know it's very important to make the tracker accessible to people all over the world."
The multilingual service reflects the spirit of Christmas itself—bridging gaps in language and culture while fostering a shared sense of wonder and joy. Whether it's a family gathered around a screen in the United States or parents tucking in excited children who just checked Santa's latest stop, the NORAD Santa Tracker continues to bring the magic of the season to life for everyone.