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Why NORAD Tracks Santa

Every year we receive the same news reports from NORAD about Santa’s progress around the world.

Have you ever wondered how NORAD got into the Santa tracking business?

The Night Santa Got Lost: How NORAD Saved Christmas
The Night Santa Got Lost: How NORAD Saved Christmas

According to THIS ARTICLE IN THE ATLANTIC, Norad became involved in tracking Santa because Sears had printed an incorrect phone number in a holiday “Call Santa Hotline” advertisement.

But it’s gotten to the point where NORAD has really embraced the holiday season and is gung-ho in their promotion of Santa.

Have you checked out NORAD’s SANTA TRACKER website, where they have the following facts about Santa available?

  • NORAD can’t predict where or when Santa will actually arrive, but NORAD knows that historically, Santa only arrives when children are asleep…. and that usually means between 9pm and midnight in most countries
  • Santa visits all homes where children believe in him
  • Santa is at least 16 centuries old
  • Santa’s sleigh, according to NORAD, usually has a test flight about a month before Christmas.  It is 75 candy canes long, 40 candy canes wide, and 55 candy canes tall.  It weighs 75,000 gumdrops.
  • Santa’s sleigh is propelled by nine reindeer.  This means that NORAD fully believes in Rudolph being a required part of Santa’s delivery team

NORAD has a slew of other “facts” about Santa and Christmas.  Be sure to click over and check them out before the holiday begins