Santa’s journey around the world has begun!

It is under the watchful eye of the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

This story began in 1955, under what was previously known as the Continental Air Defense Command.

According to the NORAD Santa tracker website, the idea was born after a phone number was misprinted in a newspaper ad. A child called the number, thinking they were contacting Santa Claus. The Director of Operations, Colonel Harry Shoup, was on the other end of the phone line, and along with his team, they began making radar predictions.

Children can still monitor Santa’s flight worldwide using the NORAD Santa Tracker.