LIVE SANTA TRACKER: Track Santa Claus as he delivers gifts around the world

ATLANTA - Santa Claus is coming to town, and you can follow his magical journey with the NORAD Santa Tracker, a beloved tradition that dates back to 1955.

The tradition began by accident when a department store misprinted a phone number in a newspaper ad, inviting kids to call Santa Claus. Instead, the number connected to the Continental Air Defense Command, NORAD's predecessor. That Christmas Eve, officers answered dozens of calls from children asking, "Where is Santa, and when will he arrive at my house?"

Today, NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) continues the tradition using a network of satellites to track Santa’s sleigh. According to NORAD spokesperson Waser, Santa’s journey generally starts just west of the International Date Line, moving across the globe from north to south. Rudolph’s glowing nose even helps satellites locate Santa’s sleigh during his travels.

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Each Christmas Eve, NORAD receives hundreds of thousands of calls, with a large team of volunteers working to keep the magic alive. Santa and his reindeer have already taken off from the North Pole, and our team is on standby at the Fox 5 Santa Tracker Command Center to keep you updated on his progress. Happy tracking!