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Norad Santa tracker – live: Follow Father Christmas and his reindeer around the globe

Santa Claus is coming to town – join us on his journey around the world

Tara Cobham,Namita Singh
Monday 25 December 2023 04:49 EST
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Santa Claus and his reindeer travel around world on Norad tracker

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Father Christmas is currently flying around the globe to deliver presents to children around the world.

Every year Norad – the North American Aerospace Defense Command – tracks Santa’s journey as he travels the planet in his sleigh.

The tradition began in 1955 when a child mistakenly rang a Colorado military command asking to speak to Father Christmas – after a local newspaper ran an advert by a department store containing a misprinted phone number.

Air Force Commander Harry Shoup, who was manning the phones that Christmas Eve, quickly realised the mistake and assured the child that he was in fact Santa Claus.

As more calls came in that night, Commander Shoup assigned a duty officer to continue answering the phone, birthing a tradition that passed over to Norad when it was formed in 1958.

Every year since, the agency – which ordinarily defends and monitors the skies over North America – has fielded children’s questions about the red-and-white-clad chimney intruder and his unrivalled delivery schedule.

Stick with us as we follow his route around the world.

Last seen in Malaysia, next stop Thailand

Santa was last spotted in Terengganu, Malaysia.

His next stop is Hat Yai in Thailand.

Santa’s next stop is Thailand
Santa’s next stop is Thailand (Getty Images)
Tara Cobham24 December 2023 15:51

Father Christmas heads to Christmas Island

Father Christmas is heading to his namesake island.

He has just left Geraldton, Australia and is now making his way to The Settlement, Christmas Island.

Tara Cobham24 December 2023 15:29

Sleigh moves from Indonesia onwards to Australia

Santa’s sleigh has made a stop in Indonesia and is now moving onwards to Australia.

It is 11.15pm in Broome, the first place to receive presents in the country.

View of Great Northern Highway 1, along the Great Sandy Desert near Broome, Western Australia
View of Great Northern Highway 1, along the Great Sandy Desert near Broome, Western Australia (Getty/iStock)
Tara Cobham24 December 2023 15:17

Santa makes his way through China

Santa is currently making his way through China to drop off his gifts.

He was last seen in Kunming and is now heading for Haikou.

It is around 11pm local time there.

Santa is currently making his way through China to drop off his gifts
Santa is currently making his way through China to drop off his gifts (PA Archive)
Tara Cobham24 December 2023 15:03

How did Norad’s Santa tracking mission begin?

In a search for answers, inquisitive children have been making calls to the North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) to establish the exact whereabouts of St Nicholas and his reindeer-led sleigh for close to 70 years.

The tradition began in 1955, when a child mistakenly rang a Colorado military command asking to speak to Father Christmas – after a local newspaper ran an advert by a department store containing a misprinted phone number.

Air Force Commander Harry Shoup, who was manning the phones that Christmas Eve, quickly realised the mistake and assured the child that he was in fact Santa Claus.

As more calls came in that night, Commander Shoup assigned a duty officer to continue answering the phone, birthing a tradition that passed over to Norad when it was formed in 1958.

Every year since, the agency – which defends and monitors the skies over North America – has fielded children’s questions about the red-and-white-clad chimney intruder and his unrivalled delivery schedule.

Santa is on his way around the globe
Santa is on his way around the globe (Norad)
Lydia Patrick24 December 2023 15:00

Sleigh arrives in Phillipines

It’s 10.43pm local time and Santa is swiftly making his way across Asia.

He is now hurtling towards towards the capital of Manila after a present drop in Davao City.

In this video grab taken from a video released by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) through the Chinese embassy in Manila on October 23, 2023 shows a collision between Chinese Coast Guard ship (R) and Philippines’ resupply boat (L) during a resupply mission in Second Thomas Shoal
In this video grab taken from a video released by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) through the Chinese embassy in Manila on October 23, 2023 shows a collision between Chinese Coast Guard ship (R) and Philippines’ resupply boat (L) during a resupply mission in Second Thomas Shoal (Chinese Coast Guard /AFP via Get)
Lydia Patrick24 December 2023 14:50

Watch - Follow Santa and his reindeer around the globe

Follow Santa and his reindeer around the globe
Lydia Patrick24 December 2023 14:45

Santa arrives in Taiwan

Father Christmas is currently dropping gifts in the capital of Taiwan, Taipei.

Taipei is a global city in the North of the country known for its tall skyscrapers and bustling night time market.

Taiwan Asia Typhoon
Taiwan Asia Typhoon (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Lydia Patrick24 December 2023 14:41

Next stop - China

So far Santa has gifted children across Russia, Australia, Japan, South Korea and he now is flying towards China.

Now Santa and his reindeer are visiting the iconic Great Wall in the capital of Beijing.

Great Wall of China damaged
Great Wall of China damaged (Youyu Public Security Bureau)
Lydia Patrick24 December 2023 14:32

Santa heads to South Korea

The sleigh has soared over Japan and is now hurtling towards South Korea.

Santa has just left Jeju City, on Jejudo Island and is now heading towards Daejon,

Visitors enjoy a snowy landscape after a recent snowfall of 20 centimeters in Mount Deokyu National Park in Muju, North Jeolla Province, South Korea
Visitors enjoy a snowy landscape after a recent snowfall of 20 centimeters in Mount Deokyu National Park in Muju, North Jeolla Province, South Korea (EPA)
Lydia Patrick24 December 2023 14:25

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