The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which monitors and defends North American airspace, has been delighting children around the world by tracking Santa Claus on Christmas Eve for nearly seven decades.
But this beloved tradition actually began by accident, when a young child mistakenly dialed a top-secret Pentagon phone number.
Back in 1955, a young child accidentally dialed a misprinted phone number from a Sears department store ad in a local newspaper.
The ad, which featured a giant cartoon Santa face, said: "Hey, kiddies! Call me direct on my Merry Xmas telephone. Call me on my private phone and I will talk to you personally any time day or night, or come in and visit me at Sears Toyland."
That phone number rang into the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where military personnel played along.
"The operations center director was quick to realize a mistake had been made, and assured the youngster that he was Santa," the agency said in a statement. "And so began the affiliation of NORAD and Santa."
What started as a serendipitous mix-up has since evolved into a worldwide holiday tradition, delighting millions of families as they follow Santa’s magical journey across the globe. Each year since NORAD was formed in 1958, the agency has dutifully reported Santa's location on December 24.
Over the years, NORAD has combined holiday cheer with cutting-edge technology to follow Santa's journey across the globe. Today, the agency uses "satellite systems, high-powered radar and jet fighters" to provide a picture of Santa's whereabouts.
On Dec. 24, trackers worldwide can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa's location from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. CST. Also on Dec. 24, the NORAD Tracks Santa website will display a live track of Santa's flight beginning at 5 a.m. CST.