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ToggleBy Matthew Lodge and Will Potter
Published: 16:07, December 23, 2023 | Updated: 6:44 p.m., December 23, 2023
Welcome to Web's live blog tracking Santa's progress on the NORAD Santa Tracker.
Saint Nicholas and his famous reindeer are on a mission to distribute billions of gifts to children around the world this Christmas. This way you can track him down yourself.
Alternatively, you can read our blog below for the latest updates on its great mission to bring joy and happiness to everyone this festive season.
How does Santa Claus travel around the world in just 24 hours?
Santa Claus has amazed families for generations with his ability to deliver thoughtful gifts around the globe overnight.
According to experts at NORAD, Santa Claus is able to do this because he doesn't experience time the same way we do, and while for us his journey may only take 24 hours, to Santa Claus it can take days, weeks or even months.
“Santa would not want to rush the important task of bringing presents to the children and bringing joy to everyone,” an insider revealed.
“So the only logical conclusion is that Santa Claus somehow functions within his own time-space continuum.”
Where does Santa Claus come first?
When Santa sets out on his 24-hour gift-giving blitz around the globe, he likes to travel from east to west, with families in the South Pacific being the first to receive their presents.
New Zealand and Australia are next, whose milk and cookies St. Nicholas devours before moving to Japan and on through Asia.
At the time of writing, Santa is making his final preparations for the big day and is ready to leave in just over 15 hours.
What happens if the NORAD Santa tracker fails?
Last year, families around the world were concerned when the NORAD Santa tracker unexpectedly failed.
Millions of people followed Father Christamas as the technology behind the tracking system failed, leaving many staring at a blank screen.
This may have been due to snowstorms across much of North America, which may have affected the power system.
However, there was no reason to worry as Santa Claus himself was fine and delivering the presents with his usual efficiency.
What will the weather be like for Santa's trip?
Since Santa will be visiting every country in the world over the next few days, he can expect to contend with almost every kind of weather imaginable.
While the UK is slightly warmer than usual, the rest of the Northern Hemisphere is in winter.
Temperatures will be below zero across much of Eastern and Northern Europe, China and Japan, as well as Canada and parts of the United States.
Meanwhile, it's midsummer in the southern hemisphere, with temperatures rising to over 30°C in countries like Australia, South Africa and Argentina.
Where is the North Pole?
The North Pole is often believed to be where Santa Claus lives, but where is he?
It's at the northernmost point of the planet – if you look at a map of the Earth, it's right at the top.
It is an incredibly remote and cold place where Santa Claus lives alone with his elves most of the year.
It is so cold that it can be reached by brave adventurers traveling on the frozen sea with huskies and sleds, even though there is no real land there.
Where does Santa Claus live?
Santa Claus has a long journey for Christmas and has to endure the cold temperatures in the northern hemisphere in winter.
However, he is well prepared for the icy air as he lives at the North Pole all year round.
In fact, it is so cold that he can live there, even though there is no real land there because the sea is completely frozen over.
However, some also believe that he lives in Lapland – a very cold and remote area in Scandinavia in Europe.
This area includes the northern parts of Norway, Sweden and Finland, the latter stating that Santa Claus lives in Korvatunturi in Rovaniemi.
Every year, children from all over the world travel to Lapland to see Santa Claus and his reindeer, who live there in the wild.
What are Santa Claus' reindeer called?
Without his faithful reindeer pulling his sleigh full of presents, Santa wouldn't get far on his big day.
In the 19th century, it was believed that Santa Claus had eight reindeer. However, with the popularization of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which has now become the group's most popular reindeer, the number was increased to nine.
The full list of names is:
- Rudolf
- Dasher
- dancer
- Prancer
- vixen
- comet
- Cupid
- thunder
- Flash
What is Santa Claus' REAL name?
For millions of children around the world, the man with the big white beard and bright red jacket is called Santa Claus.
However, it is also known by many other names including:
- Saint Nicholas
- Santa Claus
- Kris Kringle
But where does his name come from?
The name Santa Claus is believed to come from the Dutch word Sinterklaas, which in turn comes from Sanctus Nicolaus or Saint Nicholas.
Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century bishop known for his generous gifts to the poor.
The heartwarming story of the NORAD Santa Tracker
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which tracks potential airborne threats over the United States and Canada, first tracked Santa Claus shortly after World War II.
In 1948, it issued a statement saying that the “early warning radar network in the north” had detected “an unidentified sleigh driven by eight reindeer at an altitude of 14,000 feet.”
This was a one-time event, but the pursuit of Santa Claus became a tradition through a heartwarming series of events that have become legend:
- In 1955, Sears department store placed an ad in a newspaper asking children to call Santa Claus. But a child accidentally entered the wrong number and ended up calling Colorado Springs' Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), NORAD's predecessor.
- Colonel Harry Shoup, the team commander on duty, responded and gave the child a made-up location for St. Nicholas.
- Cnl Shoup then told the press that “CONAS, Army, Navy and Marine Air Forces will continue to track and guard Santa Claus and his sleigh as they travel to and from the United States from possible attacks by those who do not believe in Christmas.”
- NORAD assumed responsibility for reporting Santa's whereabouts in 1958 and since then, as technology has advanced, they have also improved the accuracy and precision with which they can keep track of Santa.
- A hotline number allows the public to call and find out about Santa's progress. Calls are answered by more than 1,500 volunteers who dedicate their time to keeping children updated on where he is.
Where does Santa Claus lead on his journey?
Good old Santa has a long journey ahead of him before he arrives in Britain.
Santa Claus begins at the International Date Line, which runs through the Pacific Ocean.
His sleigh, pulled by his nine reindeer, first travels to the island nations in the South Pacific before continuing on to New Zealand and Australia.
From there it will move north into Japan, across Asia and across Africa before moving north into Europe.
He is expected to start delivering presents in London around midday on Christmas Eve.
He will then head across the Atlantic, first entering Canada and then delivering gifts to children across the United States, traveling through places like New York, Boston and Florida in just an hour – he works fast!
He will then continue south to Mexico, Central and South America, completing his mammoth journey by noon on Christmas Day.
Here's how to track Santa Claus this Christmas
Despite the great speed at which Santa Claus travels around the world at Christmas, we are able to track him thanks to the wonders of modern technology.
North American Aerospace Defense Command staff – also known as NORAD – are keeping an eye on Santa Claus so we can all have peace of mind that everything is going smoothly.
They even have their own website, run by volunteers, where you can follow his journey second by second. You can find it by clicking here.
