Track Santa today as he gears up to deliver presents to boys and girls around the world (Image: Getty)
Santa has made his way to the International Space Station (ISS), delivering Christmas presents to the seven crew members currently aboard.
Sunita Williams, Barry Wilmore, Don Pettit, and Nick Hague are the four astronuats that are in the space during the festive seasom. The group has been living there since June 5.
They recently shared a festive video and message with the public. In the clip, they floated candy canes to one another and shared their holiday wishes: “The holiday season is about spending time with friends, family, and loved ones. This year, we’re in orbit away from them, so we want to send a heartfelt Merry Christmas and hope you have a wonderful holiday.”
Stay tuned as we track Santa’s every move, from his first stops in the Far East to his arrival in Europe, the Americas, and beyond.
Make sure you’re tucked up in bed before he reaches your neighborhood, Santa only delivers when everyone’s asleep!
The updates are from The NORAD Santa tracker.
This is a live blog, follow for updates.
Watch live: Norad Santa tracker on Christmas Eve
Santa to reach Russia soon
Santa is making his way to Russia soon as people across the globe gear up for Christmas celebrations.
Over 2.7bn gifts delivered
Santa Claus and his reindeers have managed to deliver over 2.7billion gifts so far. Father Christmas is now moving towards Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
Next stop: The Eighth continent
Santa is soon going to reach Madagascar to spread happiness.
Madagascar, the fourth-largest island in the world, is located off the southeast coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean.
Known for its unique biodiversity, diverse landscapes, and rich cultural heritage, Madagascar is often referred to as the “eighth continent” due to its distinct ecosystem.
Santa is heading towards beautiful Seychelles
Santa is now going to reach Seychelles in a few minutes.The Seychelles is a stunning archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa.
Known for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush tropical landscapes, it is a popular destination for honeymooners, nature lovers, and adventure seekers.
Santa is moving towards Seychelles (Image: Getty Images)
Santa was last seen in Qatar
Father Christmas has made his move from Qatar and is now going to visit Yemen to distribute presents.
Next stop is Tehran
Santa will be moving to Tehran to distribute gifts to Iranian people.
Over 2.4bn gifts delivered as Santa moves towards Iran
Santa is making its move towards Iran after leaving Saudi Arabia. He has delivered over 2.4bn gifts in his journey so far.
Santa continues delivering gifts
Santa is on his way to Zhangye, China as he continues spreading happiness
Santa is speeding ahead
Manila has been and gone, with Santa just a minute away from his next drop off in Hong Kong!
China deliveries complete – where will Santa go next?
Father Christmas has made stops in Beijing, Shanghai and everywhere in between in China.
Rudolph has also led the sleigh to Taiwan.
Next stop – the Philippines!
Santa has left Tokyo!
Father Christmas and his trusty reindeer have delivered presents to the Japanese city, with the total number of gifts delivered now standing at 1.14bn.
He’s making his way to Hiroshima now.
Santa and his sleigh over Japan (Image: NORAD)
Volunteers behind the scenes
Norad volunteers are busy working away taking calls in Colorado Springs for any sightings.
Itu2019s early in Colorado Springs at the #NORADTracksSanta Operations Center, and our mirthful volunteers are busy taking calls, answering important questions from you! Call us at 1-877-446-6723! ud83cudf85ud83cudffc pic.twitter.com/Wu8LY1KVLw
u2014 NORAD Tracks Santa (@NoradSanta) December 24, 2024
Huge milestone reached
As of 2pm, Santa has now delivered one billion gifts.
Next stop, Japan!
Best Santa tracker for iPhone, Android and your TV – how to track Santa today for free
There’s a number of ways you can track Santa this Christmas Eve.
Whether it’s Google’s very own tracker, Sky TV or Norad, we’ve got a full breakdown so you can take your pick.
When will Santa come to your house?
NORAD says it’s impossible to know what time Santa will arrive at each house, as he’s the only one who knows his route.
But history suggests that Santa will only come when children are asleep – so between 9pm and midnight on December 24 is probably when he’ll arrive.
NORAD said: “If children are still awake when Santa arrives, he moves on to other houses. He returns later, but only when the children are asleep!”
Santa’s outfit was not always red
Santa Claus wasn’t always dressed in red!
Early depictions of Saint Nicholas, the figure Santa is based on, showed him in various colors, including green, blue, and brown.
The iconic red suit became popular in the 1930s, thanks to Coca-Cola’s holiday advertisements, which featured a jolly Santa in red that matched their branding, and it’s stuck ever since!
Fun fact: Santa’s reindeers are all girls
Did you know Santa’s reindeer are all female?
Male reindeer shed their antlers in winter, but females keep theirs, so those antlered sleigh-pullers must be girls!
Almost one billion presents delivered already
Santa’s only just made it to Australia, but he and his reindeers have been working tirelessly and have already delivered almost a billion presents.
Santa’s headed to Australia
Santa’s got his sun cream and flip flops on as he’s headed back down under.
(Image: )
How fast is Santa’s sleigh going?
According to NORAD, it is estimated that Santa travels at 510,000,000 km, approximately 1,800 miles per second.
NORAD said the “only logical conclusion” as to how Santa can travel the world so fast is that he “somehow functions within his own time-space continuum.”
They wrote: “NORAD intelligence reports indicate that Santa does not experience time the way we do.
“His trip seems to take 24 hours to us, but to Santa, it might last days, weeks or even months.”
(Image: Getty)
Santa’s cruising above Oceania
He is ticking off countries in the Southern Hemisphere, touching down in the Solomon Islands minutes after stopping by in Vanuatu. Despite having delivered 500 million gifts, Santa’s still got a long way to go!
(Image: Getty)
Track Santa’s journey live
Watch Santa and his reindeers deliver presents around the globe in real time.
Watch live: Norad Santa tracker on Christmas Eve
Santa is heading to Antarctica to spread festive cheer
Santa’s sleigh is currently hurtling towards Antarctica.
At the time of writing, he has dropped off 357,456,363 presents to virtuous children around the globe.
The local time is 00:59.
Touching down in New Zealand
Flying over the Pacific Ocean
Santa’s currently flying over the Pacific Ocean as he makes his way to the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands. He will be making a stop in the Marshall Islands in 2 minutes.
Santa Tracker (Image: Norad )
Santa’s off!
Santa’s set off and making a stop in Magadan, Russia. He was last seen in Anadyr, Russia.
Satellites are ready to track Santa
NORAD radars and satellites are ready to track Santa!
Santa’s gearing up to set off
Santa’s sleigh will be ready for take off any minute now.
Current conditions at the North Pole indicate good weather for flying.
(Image: Getty)
What do people call Santa around the world?
British English – Santa Claus/Father Christmas
American English – Kris Kringle
French – Père Noël / Papa Noël
Spanish – Papa Noel
Dutch – Sinterklaas
German – Weihnachtsmann
Italian – Babbo Natale
Portuguese – Papai Noel
Russian – Дед Мороз – Ded Moroz
Turkish – Noel Baba
Polish – Święty Mikołaj
Santa Claus tracker updates
This Christmas Eve, technology and tradition merge as the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) once again invites the world to track Santa Claus’s global gift-giving journey.
The annual NORAD Santa Tracker has become a beloved holiday tradition, captivating children and adults alike as they follow Santa’s sleigh across continents.
NORAD, typically responsible for monitoring the skies of North America, switches gears each December 24th to chart Santa’s magical flight path.
Using cutting-edge technology, radar, and satellite systems, the organization provides real-time updates on Santa’s location, ensuring he stays on schedule to deliver presents worldwide.
Accessible via the NORAD Santa Tracker website, families can see Santa’s progress as he navigates from the North Pole to homes in every corner of the globe.
The interactive platform includes animations, festive music, and insights into Santa’s route, adding to the excitement of Christmas Eve.
This cherished initiative began in 1955, when a misprinted phone number in a newspaper ad led children to call NORAD’s predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command, asking for Santa’s whereabouts.
Decades later, it remains a heartwarming reminder of how modern technology can bring people together during the holiday season.
Whether you’re a child eagerly awaiting Santa’s arrival or an adult seeking a touch of nostalgia, the NORAD Santa Tracker promises to deliver festive cheer with every sleigh update.
(Image: Getty)
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