How a 1955 Phone Number Mistake Led to NORAD's Santa Tracking Tradition

In December 1955, a misprinted phone number in a Colorado Springs newspaper advertisement invited children to call Santa Claus directly.

 

Instead of reaching the intended department store, the calls were routed to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), the predecessor to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

 

Colonel Harry Shoup, the officer on duty, chose to embrace the spirit of the season.

 

He instructed his team to provide children with updates on Santa's location, marking the beginning of a heartwarming tradition.

 

By 1958, when CONAD transitioned to NORAD, the practice of tracking Santa's journey had become an annual event.

 

Over the decades, this initiative has expanded significantly.

 

Today, NORAD Tracks Santa operates across multiple platforms, including a dedicated website, mobile applications, social media channels, and even voice assistants.

 

Each Christmas Eve, volunteers at NORAD's operations center field hundreds of thousands of calls from children worldwide, eager to know Santa's whereabouts.

 

In 2024 alone, the program received approximately 380,000 calls, demonstrating its enduring popularity.

 

This tradition not only brings joy to countless families but also showcases the adaptability and commitment of NORAD to engage with the public in a unique and festive manner.

 

As we celebrate this holiday season, the story of a simple phone number error evolving into a global phenomenon reminds us of the magic that can arise from unexpected moments.