Santa Tracker: NORAD Has St. Nick Headed to Michigan

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METRO DETROIT, MI – “‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.”

When, Mom? When, Dad?

For the answer, the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s (NORAD) Santa Tracker is once again tracing Santa’s mythical journey around the globe. The NORAD Santa Tracker website is already up and running with a countdown clock ticking away the time until the big night arrives.

NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command, have been tracking Santa’s movements since 1955, the agency’s website says. That website also offers a number of activities, including games, movies, music and the “Secret Santa Files” to keep kids busy on Christmas Eve – and before.

Parents who want to help their kids track Santa — and know when to go to bed — just need to visit the tracker site online.

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While NORAD has been offering the Santa tracker for 50 years, California tech giant Google began tracking Santa’s movements 11 years ago. The Google Santa Tracker offers games in “Santa’s Village” and information about holiday traditions around the world. Kids can even give Santa a makeover.

Patch staff member Liz Taurasi contributed to this report.