For 70 years, NORAD has followed Santa Claus. A phone call from a child launched the tradition

A call to a wrong number gave rise to the US Air Force tradition of having a tracker accompany Santa Claus on his journey.

In December 1955, in the midst of Cold War tensions, an unexpected call to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) in Colorado Springs changed history.

O Colonel Harry Shoupthen director of operations, answered the phone and heard a child ask: “Is it Santa Claus?”

Initially, Colonel Shoup thought it was a prank. After realizing the sincerity of the child’s belief, he decided to join in the game, identifying himself as Santa Claus with a convincing “ho ho ho”.

This single call laid the foundations of a tradition of almost 70 years which, since then, has delighted millions of children around the world: .

The call originated from a printing error in a Sears store ad. The department store had invited children to call Santa Claus, but an incorrect digit directed calls to Santa Claus. CONAD top secret line.

Faced with a barrage of calls, Colonel Shoup instructed his staff to respond like Santa Claus. What began as a festive improvisation soon became a beloved tradition.

That Christmas Eve, the base took on an unusually joyful atmosphere.

Team members decorated their operational maps with images of sledding and Colonel Shoup even reported to a local radio station the existence of a “unidentified flying object resembling a sled”, which further cemented the new extravagant custom.

In the following decades, the tradition grew exponentially. Currently managed by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), Santa Tracker is a highly anticipated global event. Starting December 1, NORAD uses its cutting-edge surveillance capabilities to “follow” Santa Claus’ journey.

On Christmas Eve, a team of about 1,000 volunteers operates the call center at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado, answering questions from children around the world. Only in 2022 were the 78,000 callswrites to .

For Terri Van Keuren, daughter of Colonel Shoup, the legacy of her father – affectionately known as the “Colonel Santa Claus” – is a source of immense pride. Now 75, she fondly remembers her own participation in the tradition as a decade-long volunteer, wearing a t-shirt that celebrated her father’s role in starting it all.

Today, the NORAD Santa Tracker is not only a symbol of holiday cheer, but also a testament to the power of a simple act of kindness. Terri says her father’s story is so beloved that she may soon inspire a feature filmensuring that “Santa Claus Coronel” and his legacy will last for future generations.