A child’s call to a military hotline in 1955 unexpectedly created one of the most beloved holiday traditions: the NORAD Santa Tracker. This global phenomenon began when a child mistakenly called a number reserved for emergencies.
The call reached Colonel Harry Shoup at the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), the predecessor to NORAD. When Shoup answered, he was surprised to hear a child asking to speak with Santa. Realizing the call was genuine, Shoup decided to play along, sparking what would become a cherished tradition.
In December 1955 a child accidentally called a colonel at an air base in Colorado Springs asking for 'Santa' – all because of a misprint in a newspaper advert.
Colonel Harry Shoup answered the call. His daughter Terri tells the story of how the NORAD Santa Tracker begun 👇… pic.twitter.com/l0lepLS1Kw
— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 24, 2024
The mix-up stemmed from a Sears holiday ad encouraging kids to call Santa. The number printed was off by one digit, directing calls to the military hotline. Shoup, a father himself, assigned staff to answer the calls as Santa.
How NORAD's Santa tracker was ACCIDENTALLY launched by a child's call to a top secret phone linehttps://t.co/Sat5VOQOJ6
— Michael Rivero (@WRH_Mike_Rivero) December 25, 2023
On Christmas Eve, the tradition took another step forward when staff humorously added a sleigh and reindeer to a radar board tracking aircraft. Shoup supported the fun, even contacting a radio station to share updates on Santa’s “flight.”
Over the years, NORAD’s Santa Tracker evolved. By the 1960s, updates were sent to radio stations, and in the 1970s, Santa’s progress was broadcast on TV. Today, families can track him online, via a mobile app, or by calling the NORAD hotline.
With support from over 1,250 volunteers each year, the Santa Tracker now spans the globe, spreading holiday joy to millions. Shoup’s family remains involved, continuing the tradition that started with one innocent phone call.
