Image from www.noradsanta.org In addition to tracking Sants around the world, parents and children can also explore the North Pole and find games and other interactive activities at the website.

The day has arrived. It’s time to pick out some cookies and warm up some milk, or hot chocolate maybe, so Santa Claus doesn’t get famished on his longest work day of the year.

For many years children have struggled to go to sleep, wondering when the sleigh and reindeer might land on their roof.

Thanks to technology, satellites and maybe even some Christmas magic, Santa’s whereabouts are tracked for anyone who would like to check up on him.

For more than 50 years the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has tracked Santa, aka Kris Kringle, on Christmas Eve and helped to ensure he completes his journey safely.

Children and parents can follow Santa’s progress online and in real time. NORAD provides a link to a tracking map from www.noradsanta.org. You can also find games and other interactive activities at the website.

Image from www.noradsanta.org Parents and children can track Santa around the world at the website.

NORAD’s primary mission is to defend the homeland but technology also allows them to see a speeding sleigh and reindeer.

“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. “The same radars, satellites and interceptors employed on December 24 are used year-round to defend Canadian and American airspace from threats.”

So how did an agency commissioned to protect us start keeping track of a harmless gift-giver?

It all started in 1955 when a newspaper advertisement informed children they could call Santa directly. However, the contact number in the advertisement was misprinted.

Instead of reaching Santa, the phone rang through to the crew commander on duty, U.S. Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup, at the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center, the predecessor to NORAD. Col. Shoup was quick to realize a mistake had been made, and assured the child he was Santa.

Shoup then assigned a duty officer to continue answering calls. And so, a tradition was born, and continued when NORAD was formed in 1958. Each year since, NORAD has reported Santa’s location on Dec. 24 to millions of children and families.

If you prefer to call to find out where Santa is in his travels the number is 1-877-HiNORAD.