Let’s face it, Santa is kind of a big deal.
For thousands of years, he has been the face of the Christmas gift-giving franchise: a jolly guy who oversees a toy distribution system that would make Amazon blush.
He’s so big, that just like some Hollywood celebrity couple with a merged name, people want to know his every move.
If your kids are beginning to ask, “Where is Santa?”, there are a few ways you can track him in the run-up to his big night – Christmas Eve.
Both the U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command and the search engine Google have powered up their radars and launched their websites in anticipation of the annual one-night, round-the-world-flight of the North Pole’s most famous resident.
For more than 63 years, NORAD has turned its tracking capabilities toward following the progress of Santa Claus and his reindeer as the jolly old elf takes flight on Christmas Eve.
More than 1,500 volunteers staff telephones and computers on Christmas Eve to answer calls and emails about Santa's progress. Live updates are provided (in seven languages) through the NORAD Tracks Santa website.
For the hardcore Santa follower, NORAD’s website does not disappoint. Visitors can go to the website to watch a movie, play some games, hear some music and learn about St. Nicholas, his elves and his sleigh.
Over at Google, Santa has been on their radar, literally, for 13 years.
Google's Santa Tracker includes Santa's Village. There is a countdown clock there and as we move toward Dec. 24, the village unlocks new games and experiences for visitors.
Look for a place to create artwork, a chance to hone your coding skills and a test of your geography skills.
When will Santa wil get to your house? Google offers a link to let you track Santa directly in Google Maps and google.com in addition to using the Santa Tracker. You can even go into Street View to look at the cities he is visiting as he makes his trip to deliver toys.
You can follow Santa via Google on desktop or mobile devices (Android/iOS), Android app, Android TV app and Chromecast.
While the two sites have different features, where they come together is when they go into tracking mode on Christmas Eve.
You can watch Santa as he leaves the North Pole headed on his worldwide voyage in real time. He visits countries around the world through the day and brings it home to the United States by Christmas Eve night.
Of course, you really should be in bed by that time.
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