Norad Santa tracker – live: Follow Father Christmas and his reindeer around the globe
Santa Claus is coming to town – join us on his journey around the world
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Your support makes all the difference.Father Christmas is currently flying around the globe to deliver presents to children around the world.
Every year Norad – the North American Aerospace Defense Command – tracks Santa’s journey as he travels the planet in his sleigh.
The tradition began in 1955 when a child mistakenly rang a Colorado military command asking to speak to Father Christmas – after a local newspaper ran an advert by a department store containing a misprinted phone number.
Air Force Commander Harry Shoup, who was manning the phones that Christmas Eve, quickly realised the mistake and assured the child that he was in fact Santa Claus.
As more calls came in that night, Commander Shoup assigned a duty officer to continue answering the phone, birthing a tradition that passed over to Norad when it was formed in 1958.
Every year since, the agency – which ordinarily defends and monitors the skies over North America – has fielded children’s questions about the red-and-white-clad chimney intruder and his unrivalled delivery schedule.
Stick with us as we follow his route around the world.
Last seen in Malaysia, next stop Thailand
Santa was last spotted in Terengganu, Malaysia.
His next stop is Hat Yai in Thailand.
Father Christmas heads to Christmas Island
Father Christmas is heading to his namesake island.
He has just left Geraldton, Australia and is now making his way to The Settlement, Christmas Island.
Sleigh moves from Indonesia onwards to Australia
Santa’s sleigh has made a stop in Indonesia and is now moving onwards to Australia.
It is 11.15pm in Broome, the first place to receive presents in the country.
Santa makes his way through China
Santa is currently making his way through China to drop off his gifts.
He was last seen in Kunming and is now heading for Haikou.
It is around 11pm local time there.
How did Norad’s Santa tracking mission begin?
In a search for answers, inquisitive children have been making calls to the North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) to establish the exact whereabouts of St Nicholas and his reindeer-led sleigh for close to 70 years.
The tradition began in 1955, when a child mistakenly rang a Colorado military command asking to speak to Father Christmas – after a local newspaper ran an advert by a department store containing a misprinted phone number.
Air Force Commander Harry Shoup, who was manning the phones that Christmas Eve, quickly realised the mistake and assured the child that he was in fact Santa Claus.
As more calls came in that night, Commander Shoup assigned a duty officer to continue answering the phone, birthing a tradition that passed over to Norad when it was formed in 1958.
Every year since, the agency – which defends and monitors the skies over North America – has fielded children’s questions about the red-and-white-clad chimney intruder and his unrivalled delivery schedule.
Sleigh arrives in Phillipines
It’s 10.43pm local time and Santa is swiftly making his way across Asia.
He is now hurtling towards towards the capital of Manila after a present drop in Davao City.
Watch - Follow Santa and his reindeer around the globe
Santa arrives in Taiwan
Father Christmas is currently dropping gifts in the capital of Taiwan, Taipei.
Taipei is a global city in the North of the country known for its tall skyscrapers and bustling night time market.
Next stop - China
So far Santa has gifted children across Russia, Australia, Japan, South Korea and he now is flying towards China.
Now Santa and his reindeer are visiting the iconic Great Wall in the capital of Beijing.
Santa heads to South Korea
The sleigh has soared over Japan and is now hurtling towards South Korea.
Santa has just left Jeju City, on Jejudo Island and is now heading towards Daejon,
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