Santa Claus began his annual journey on Christmas Eve, aboard his reindeer-powered sleigh, delivering presents worldwide. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), based at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, has been tracking Santa’s route for 69 years. The tradition began in 1955 after a misdirected advertisement gave children the wrong phone number, leading them to NORAD’s predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command. Since then, NORAD has continued the whimsical service, ensuring children around the world can follow Santa’s journey in real-time.

Even amid concerns of a government shutdown, NORAD confirmed that Santa’s mission would go on uninterrupted. “Santa runs on the Christmas spirit, so any possible government actions would not affect his mission,” said Royal Canadian Air Force Major Jennie Derenzis. Volunteers, many of whom are civilians, answer calls from children, providing updates on Santa’s progress.

By the time of this report, Santa was heading toward Cayenne, French Guiana, continuing his holiday rounds. NORAD’s tracking updates are accessible through their website and on various social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X. The public can also get updates via Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and OnStar.