Santa Claus on the move: everything you need to know about when Santa arrives in 2025

The magic is still alive: tracking Santa Claus on Christmas Eve

Every December 24th, millions of families in over 200 countries experience a magical moment: tracking Santa Claus’s journey from the North Pole to their homes. For more than seven decades, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has turned a simple tradition into a global phenomenon, allowing children and adults to follow in real time how Santa delivers gifts around the world. In 2025, this experience continues to captivate new generations with cutting-edge technology and a touch of nostalgia.

How to monitor Santa Claus: a practical guide for 2025

NORAD provides families with modern tools to follow the Christmas journey. The Santa Claus Tracker, available on both the official website and the organization’s mobile app, begins its operations at 4:00 (ET) on December 24th, offering continuous updates on Santa’s trip.

Children can also participate interactively: starting at 6:00 (ET), a free phone line is available (1-877-HI-NORAD) where they can call to ask about Santa’s exact location. The technology behind this system includes satellites, radars, and high-resolution cameras that monitor every movement of the sleigh in the sky.

The route Santa Claus takes around the world

Santa’s journey follows a well-planned itinerary that begins at the international date line in the Pacific Ocean. His first traditional deliveries occur in New Zealand and Australia, from where he continues to Asia, crosses Africa, and reaches Europe. Afterwards, the route heads to North America and concludes in Latin America.

What’s interesting is that Santa adjusts his route in real time, ensuring that when Santa arrives at each home, children are already sleeping. If he encounters resistance, he simply continues his journey and returns later. Even in previous years, NORAD has recorded special visits from Santa to the International Space Station as part of its Christmas broadcasts.

The origin of a tradition: from an error to a global phenomenon

The story behind Santa tracking is as charming as the journey itself. It all started in 1955 when a local Christmas advertisement made a typographical error, publishing the phone number of the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), NORAD’s predecessor, with an invitation for children to call Santa Claus.

Colonel Harry Shoup, on duty that day, made a decision that would change Christmas history: he answered each call and assured the children that Santa would be monitored and protected during his trip. From that fortuitous moment, the initiative evolved into a well-established Christmas tradition.

Since 1958, NORAD has officially taken over this operation, transforming it into one of the most recognized community outreach programs of the U.S. Department of Defense. Today, Santa tracking is an event that brings together millions of people each year, serving as a bridge between modern technology and the Christmas magic that transcends borders and generations.