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Norad Santa tracker – LIVE: Follow Santa Claus as he delivers Christmas gifts on global journey

He’s made his list, he’s checked it twice – join us on Father Christmas’s journey around the world

Tom Murray,Tara Cobham,Albert Toth,Josh Marcus
Wednesday 25 December 2024 02:38 GMT
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Santa delivers presents by boat in Brazil’s Amazon

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Santa Claus and his reindeer are rocketing around the globe, with billions of stops to make in less than 24 hours.

Father Christmas has already soared past locations around the world, from Nunavut, northern Canada, to southern Chile, with multiple trips through the Caribbean.

Every Christmas Eve, Norad – the North American Aerospace Defense Command – provides real-time tracking of Santa’s sleigh as it navigates the skies.

The cherished tradition dates back to 1955 when a misprint in a department store advert led a young child to call a Colorado military command center asking to speak to Santa Claus.

Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup, who picked up the call that night, played along and assured the child he was Santa. As more calls poured in, he assigned an officer to handle the queries, starting a festive custom that Norad continued after its creation in 1958.

For decades, Norad has swapped its usual airspace monitoring duties to answer children’s questions about Santa’s journey and his astonishing present-delivery operation. Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the organisation to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online – in nine languages – as St Nick swoops along the earth’s meridians.

Stay tuned for updates as we follow Santa’s magical route across the world.

Father Christmas makes his way across Australia

Father Christmas is now making his way across Australia.

His last stop was Brisbane, his next is Sydney.

He and his reindeer have already delivered more than 900 million gifts.

Tara Cobham24 December 2024 13:34

From Papua New Guinea to Australia where it is almost Christmas Day

Santa Claus is fast making his way to Australia after stopping in Papua New Guinea.

He was last seen in Daru and will next be delivering gifts in Cooktown, where it is almost midnight and so very soon will be Christmas Day.

Tara Cobham24 December 2024 13:26

Father Christmas has just left Sakhalin Island and heads for Northern Mariana Islands

Father Christmas has just left Nevelsk in Sakhalin Island.

He is headed for San Vincente in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, where he will be delivering presents in a few minutes’ time.

Father Christmas has just left Nevelsk in Sakhalin Island
Father Christmas has just left Nevelsk in Sakhalin Island (Norad)
Tara Cobham24 December 2024 13:07

Santa’s next stop is the Kuril Islands

Santa’s next stop is Kurilsk in the Kuril Islands, which stretch between Japan and Russia and separate the Sea of Okhotsk from the north Pacific Ocean.

He just delivered gifts to across Palikir in the Federated States of Micronesia.

Tara Cobham24 December 2024 12:44

Volunteers are busy taking calls via the Norad Tracks Santa hotline

Volunteers are busy taking calls via the Norad Tracks Santa hotline.

They typically answer more than 130,000 calls from children across the globe.

You can call them at 1-877-446-6723

Tara Cobham24 December 2024 12:40

Last seen in New Caledonia and heading for Vanuatu

Father Christmas was last seen in New Caledonia.

He is now heading for Vanuatu, where he will be delivering gifts in just a few seconds.

Father Christmas is now heading for Vanuatu, where he will be delivering gifts in just a few seconds
Father Christmas is now heading for Vanuatu, where he will be delivering gifts in just a few seconds (Norad)
Tara Cobham24 December 2024 12:27

Watch Live: Norad tracks Santa’s annual journey delivering presents around the world

Watch live as Santa Claus begins his yearly lap around the world, being pulled by his nine reindeer to deliver presents to children across the globe:

Norad tracks Santa’s annual journey delivering presents around the world

Watch live as Santa Claus begins his yearly lap around the world, being pulled by his nine reindeer to deliver presents to children across the globe.

Tara Cobham24 December 2024 12:22

And on to Fiji where it is comparatively balmy

Santa and his sleigh is now heading to Fiji.

He will be delivering presents to children in Suva in a few minutes, where it is a comparatively balmy 26C.

Tara Cobham24 December 2024 12:19

Next stop Antarctica!

Father Christmas is now on his way to Antarctica.

His first stop there will be McMurdo Station, where it is a chilly -7C.

Tara Cobham24 December 2024 12:04

More than 300 million gifts have already been delivered

Santa has been busy, having already delivered more than 300 million gifts to children eagerly awaiting his arrival.

He is currently steering his sleigh through the Pacific, with his next stop being Chatham Island, New Zealand.

Tara Cobham24 December 2024 11:53

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