NORAD Celebrates 70 Years of Tracking Santa Claus and Spreading Holiday Cheer

This year, for the first time, children can reach Santa on Christmas Eve by making calls directly through NORAD’s website.

Air Force Col. Amy Glisson and other volunteers answer phone calls from around the world at the NORAD Tracks Santa center at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Dec. 24, 2024. Christian Murdock/The Gazette via AP

For generations, on Christmas Eve, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has transformed military operations into seasonal magic, and this year marks a major milestone in bringing holiday cheer to children around the globe.

NORAD is celebrating 70 years of tracking Santa Claus on its radar, a tradition that began back in 1955, and shows no signs of slowing down.