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Norad tracks Santa Claus' flight around the world on Christmas Eve.
The globally celebrated NORAD Santa Tracker tradition, where millions of children follow Santa's flight, surprisingly began over 50 years ago due to a simple typo in a Colorado newspaper advertisement.
In 1955, a Sears Roebuck & Co. ad published a misprinted phone number for children to call Santa. Instead of connecting to the North Pole, it mistakenly routed calls to Colonel Harry Shoup's secure red phone at the Continental Air Defense Command, typically reserved for high-level military communications.
Initially irritated by the calls, Colonel Shoup decided to play along, assigning airmen to answer for Santa. On Christmas Eve, his team even added Santa's sleigh to their tracking board. This impromptu act of kindness quickly evolved into a cherished annual tradition, with Shoup receiving heartfelt thanks from around the world.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) officially assumed responsibility for tracking Santa in 1958. To this day, NORAD staff members, along with volunteers, dedicate their time each Christmas Eve to respond to children's calls, letters, and emails, ensuring Santa's global journey is tracked for all to follow.