Made possible by the North American Defense Command (NORAD), a military unit in the USA and Canada, normally responsible for the defense of the North American air and sea space.  On Xmas Eve, however, radar, satellite, Santa-Cams and jet fighters are all dedicated to following the route of Santa Claus, which one can follow, in collaboration with Google, on the NORAD Website for the Location of Father Christmas.  Here one can view (using Google Maps or Google earth) his routing and discover a bunch of other important information about the chubby gift bringer.

1955 marked the first tracking of Santa – then by the Continental Defense Command (CONAD).  In 1958, NORAD assumed responsibility for this important mission. As of 1997, interested parties could already be informed by telephone of the current location, and a year later, the travels were discoverable via Internet.

This tradition was born as a result of an incorrect telephone number, which was incorrectly published by a Colorado Springs Department Store in 1955, as their Santa Claus Hotline. Instead of the expected Hotline, children were connected to the then head of CONAD.  In good humor, he started the search via radar, so that all callers could track their expected visitor.