On Christmas Eve, more than 1,000 volunteers will answer the 1-877-HI-NORAD line, a tradition that has grown into a national event for the past 70 years. The call center, located at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, will be open from 4 a.m. to midnight Mountain Standard Time, welcoming parents and children alike. Last year, the hotline received about 380,000 calls, a testament to the enduring magic of Santa’s journey. This year, a new online portal lets people outside North America place calls directly through the program’s website.
A New Digital Experience
The website, which now supports nine languages-including English and Japanese-offers a streamlined way for callers to track Santa’s progress. By allowing online submissions, the program hopes to reach a broader audience, especially those who may not have access to the traditional phone line. Volunteers will still handle the calls, providing a personal touch that has become a hallmark of the experience. The addition of a digital interface underscores the organization’s commitment to modernizing while preserving tradition.
How NORAD Keeps an Eye on Santa
The same combination of radar, satellites and jets that safeguards the skies also powers Santa’s tracking. Col. Kelly Frushour, a NORAD spokesperson, explained that the technology can pick up a heat signature similar to a missile. “Rudolph’s nose gives off a heat signature similar to a missile that is picked up by NORAD’s satellites,” she said. The system can start tracking Santa from the international date line over the Pacific Ocean, giving the organization a global view of his journey. This capability is a direct result of the advanced sensors that have been in place for decades.
Heartwarming Moments
Frushour recalled a memorable call from a girl who was upset after hearing Santa was on his way to the International Space Station, where two astronauts were stranded. “Thankfully, by the time the call was over, Santa Claus had moved on to another destination and the child was reassured that Santa was not trapped in space and was going to make it to her house later that evening,” she said. Another caller, a special-needs man named Henry, asked if the jet pilot escorting Santa could leave a note in the plane letting Santa know he was in bed and ready for him to come. Michelle Martin, a NORAD staffer and Marine veteran, explained that Santa travels “faster than starlight.” “I don’t know that our pilot can catch up with him fast enough. He just waves and he goes,” she recalled saying.
The Origins of a Holiday Tradition
The tradition began in 1955 when NORAD’s predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command, was on the lookout for any sign of a possible nuclear attack from the then-Soviet Union. NORAD says a child mistakenly called the combat operations center and asked to speak to Santa Claus. The commander on duty, Air Force Col. Harry Shoup, didn’t want to disappoint the child, so he ordered staffers to start tracking Santa and take calls from children. The story goes that the first phone call was either the result of a misprint or a misdial of a number included in a Sears advertisement in the Colorado Springs newspaper encouraging children to call Santa.
A Question of Reality
In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, saying a call to a public phone line was more probable and noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations. In a 1999 interview with The Associated Press, Shoup recalled playing along once he figured out what was happening, telling the first caller, “Ho, ho, ho, I am Santa.” “The crew was looking at me like I had lost it,” he recalled. He said he told his staff what was happening and told them to play along, too. It’s not clear what day the first call came in, but by Dec. 23 of that first year, The Associated Press reported that CONAD was tracking Santa.
From CONAD to NORAD
CONAD soon became North American Aerospace Defense Command. It used to operate inside nearby Cheyenne Mountain. A network of tunnels had been blasted out of the mountain’s hard granite so NORAD officers could survive a nuclear attack. The organization’s infrastructure has evolved, but its mission to monitor the skies remains unchanged. The continuity of the Santa-tracking hotline is a testament to the resilience of the program.
A Modern Touch
Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, host of the Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic Podcast, shares advice on broaching the subject this holiday season. Her involvement highlights how the tradition has expanded into new media and educational outreach. The hotline, the website, and the podcasts together create a multifaceted experience for families worldwide. Each year, the program continues to blend cutting-edge technology with a timeless story that captures the imagination of children and adults alike.
Key Takeaways
- Over 1,000 volunteers will answer 1-877-HI-NORAD on Christmas Eve, with a 380,000-call history.
- The new online portal supports nine languages and expands global access.
- NORAD’s radar, satellite, and jet systems track Santa from the international date line.
- The tradition dates back to 1955, born from a misdialed call to a defense command center.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command’s Santa-tracking hotline remains a beloved holiday ritual, uniting technology, volunteerism, and a touch of wonder for generations to come.
