NORAD Tracks Santa's Christmas Eve Global Tour

Santa Claus has lifted off from the North Pole on Christmas Eve, embarking on his annual global journey to deliver gifts to children around the world. The departure, which began early in the day as tracked by multiple digital platforms, involves navigating an estimated 300 million miles to reach approximately 75 million homes before dawn.

Pulling the sleigh are the traditional team of reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph. The mission requires precise timing across time zones, with Santa starting in the Pacific region. His route typically begins with stops in the Republic of Kiribati, followed by New Zealand and Australia, then proceeds through Asia, Africa, Western Europe and the United Kingdom, before crossing to Canada, the United States, Mexico and the rest of the Americas. In the UK, deliveries are expected to conclude in Scotland as he moves northward through the British Isles.

Families worldwide can follow the progress through interactive tools designed to enhance the holiday experience. The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, operates its longstanding Santa Tracker, which provides real-time maps, videos and a...