Serendipity35

Ken Ronkowitz and Tim Kellers here at Serendipity35 wish you a very happy and healthy holiday season and launch into your next dance around the Sun in 2026!

Speaking of launches, I have often posted on this Christmas Eve on how to track Santa Claus on his annual trip around the Earth delivering Christmas joy and toys. Tracking Santa using NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) is a beloved tradition that is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.

NORAD uses the "North Warning System" radar and satellites. They specifically look for the infrared signature of Rudolph’s red nose, which gives off a heat signal similar to a missile launch. The tradition began in 1955 when a Sears Roebuck ad accidentally printed the wrong phone number for Santa—it was actually the top-secret hotline for Continental Air Defense Command (now NORAD). The commander on duty, Col. Harry Shoup, decided to play along, and a tradition was born.

There are a number of ways to track Santa's sleigh. The primary hub for tracking is NORADSanta.org.

While you're waiting for Santa to launch, you can play games in the "Arcade," listen to music, and learn about the history of the tracker. 

On Christmas Eve, starting at 2:00 AM MST (4:00 AM EST), the website transforms into a live 3D map showing Santa’s current location, his next stop, and the number of gifts delivered.

On mobile devices, upu can track on the go: download the official "NORAD Tracks Santa" app. It is available for iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play Store).

You can also ask Alexa ("Alexa, where is Santa?") or use OnStar in your vehicle to get updates.

On Christmas Eve, you can speak to a live volunteer at the NORAD Operations Center at 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723). Live operators are available from 4:00 AM MST on Dec 24 until midnight MST.

This year, there is also a new web-based calling option directly on the website, which is helpful for international families who want to avoid long-distance phone charges.