Each year, at least 100,000 kids call the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online in nine languages.

Tensions were growing with the Soviet Union, along with anxieties about nuclear war.Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that ...

NORAD’s Santa tracker is a Christmas tradition that’s become nearly global in scope. Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado.

NORAD’s Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost. Now it attracts millions of kids An estimated 100,000 kids annually call in to NORAD volunteers in Colorado Springs to track Santa’s ...

NORAD's Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost. Now it attracts millions of kids Each year, at least 100,000 kids worldwide call the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about ...

NORAD's live operators chat with callers about Santa's whereabouts. Shoup stationed some airmen on the red phone to field the calls pouring in from children wanting to talk about their Christmas ...

NORAD started tracking St. Nick on Christmas Eve after a child tried to call Santa's phone number but got the Air Force instead. Now 1,500 helpers answer the hotline every year.

NORAD’s tradition is one of the few modern additions to the centuries-old Santa story that have endured, according to Gerry Bowler, a Canadian historian who spoke to the AP in 2010.

Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that began to recite a Christmas wish list.

Millions more follow online in nine languages, from English to Japanese. On any other night, NORAD is scanning the heavens for potential threats, such as last year’s Chinese spy balloon.