NORAD keeps track of Santa’s trip
Children around the world had one question on their minds Saturday night: When would Santa be here? For the 61st year in a row, NORAD had the answer. Calls came in from around the world Christmas Eve asking the 120 volunteers answering phone calls at a time where Old St. Nick was on his trek. Volunteers spoke more than 18 different languages to make sure every kid had the chance to find out Santa’s whereabouts. NORAD expected as many as 140,000 calls.
It was unclear whether first lady Michelle Obama would join in answering calls this year after doing so the past six years.
The tradition started in 1955 when a Colorado Springs newspaper ad misprinted the telephone number for kids to call Santa, sending them to the Continental Air Defense Command. Instead of turning the kids away, Col. Harry Shoup had his staff check the radar for Santa’s location.
In 1948, the United States and Canadian governments created North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, which took over the tradition. Danika Worthington, The Denver Post