Where is Santa Now? How to track Santa in 2021 with Google

Santa Claus has been on children’s radar for centuries, but for the past 60-plus years he’s been on NORAD’s as well. The North American Aerospace Defense Command didn’t take up tracking the jolly old elf as he travels around the globe delivering presents to children out of some national security threat or threat to the St Nick himself, it all came about by accident.

NORAD isn’t alone in the business of helping children know when they need to head off to bed lest Santa skips over their house. Back in 2004, Google got into the gig of tracking Kris Kringle’s magical one-night journey around the world. Here’s how you too can follow Father Christmas…

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A brief history of tracking Santa

As the US Department of Defense tells the story, it all started back in 1955 when a young boy rang up the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), the predecessor of NORAD, trying to get in touch with Santa. A Sear’s advert in a newspaper directing children to call Santa had inadvertently published the number of CONAD. Typos will happen, but never let anyone tell you that military brass can’t have big hearts.

On the other end of the phone call was Colonel Harry Shoup, who entertained the child’s enquiries about Santa instructing staff to check the radar from old St Nick. The typical night shift became atypical as more calls came in from other children with similar queries and thus was born a tradition.

However, over the years the technology has become quite a bit more sophisticated. Instead of just taking calls and posting press releases on Father Christmas’ whereabouts, children and those young at heart can follow Santa Claus and his reindeer as they cover distances at a speed that not even the most high-tech military aircraft could.

How to track Santa Claus with NORAD Santa Tracker

With smartphones, anyone around the world can track Santa’s location using the NORAD Santa Tracker. It can be downloaded from the Google Play store or Apple AppStore. Or you can follow Father Christmas online at the NORAD webpage on your computer in eight different languages with some pretty flashy graphics as well as information on the locales that Santa has visited.

At the same time, the number of gifts that Kris Kringle is handing out is constantly updated.

But if you want to get the low-down from a those who are manning the radar banks 24 hours a day, service personnel are manning the lines fielding calls. You can call +1 (877) HI-NORAD.

How to track Santa Claus with Google Santa Tracker

The search engine giant knows just about everything and it is keeping tabs on Santa Claus as well. Like the NORAD Santa Tracker users will see where Father Christmas is at as he treks across the globe and how many gifts have been placed beneath trees. To give the kids a heads up on when to skidaddle to bed, the app lets you know approximately how long until the jolly old elf will be dropping down the chimney.

Along with the tracker, Google provides a number of other features for users including games to play. The app can be used online with your computer at the Google Santa Tracker webpage or downloaded onto your smartphone via the Google Play store.

But remember, the children must be “nestled all snug in their beds” before Santa Claus arrives.

“Happy Christmas to all, And to all a goodnight!”