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LAST UPDATE | 24 Dec 2025
IT’S CHRISTMAS EVE, and that means one thing and one thing only.
Santa is on his way.
Everyone wants to catch a glimpse of the man in red, but unfortunately he’s hard to spot with the naked eye.
Thankfully, due to the wonders of modern technology (the internet), it’s very easy to track Santa as he travels across the world tonight before he finally arrives here.
Here’s two of the best ways to stay updated.
The NORAD (North American Aerospace Comment) Santa Tracker is the longest running Santa tracker in the world – it’s been in existence since December 1955.
Every year on Christmas Eve, NORAD tracks Santa from the moment he leaves the North Pole and delivers presents to children around the world.
This year marks Norad’s 70th anniversary tracking Santa, and it has built up a huge database of facts and statistics about his work and equipment.
The weight of presents at takeoff has been estimated by NORAD to be about 80,000 tons, but even NORAD can’t calculate the sleigh’s top speed.
NORAD’s tradition of tracking Santa began in 1955 when a young American boy rang a department store’s Christmas phone number but accidentally ended up on the line with the head of the airspace agency.
The Director of Operations, Colonel Harry Shoup, answered the phone and instructed his staff to check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole.
Now the website now offers games, videos and other activities as you sit around the Christmas tree.
If you’re going to be out and about this evening and won’t be near a computer, don’t worry – NORAD also has apps to keep you up to date wherever you are.
Another way to track Santa as he makes his journey around the world tonight is by using the Google Santa Tracker.
This tracker uses Google Maps and their extensive data on sleigh engineering (along with some magical help from Santa’s very own elves).
This option is a far more colourful and animated way of tracking him, and the website has tonnes of games to play while you’re waiting.
Like NORAD, Google offers a mobile alternative to the tracker.
However, this is only available on Android.
Both the website and app options have a large number of games and activities to keep the kids entertained.
No matter which of the above options you choose, both will most definitely keep the younger children entertained as the excitement builds before Santa arrives.
But, just remember – once he does arrive … it’s CHRISTMAS!
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