The joint US-Canadian military monitoring agency, North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), has continued its tradition of tracking Santa Claus for the 68th year. Santa Claus is making his annual trip today from the North Pole to deliver presents to children all across the globe. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has set up an official tracker to follow Santa's journey. As of 7:52am IST, NORAD says Santa is at Hamilton, Bermuda. NORAD has been tracking Santa every Christmas for the last 68 years. According to NORAD, it is impossible to know when Santa will visit a specific location because only Santa knows his route. However, historically, he arrives when children are asleep. NORAD's Santa tracker is currently live, and you can monitor Santa's progress on the map. The Santa tracker dates back to 1955 when a newspaper ad printed a phone number for Santa but mistakenly directed readers to the military nerve centre. To avoid disappointing children, NORAD's director of operations at the time ordered his staff to check the radar and update the children on Santa's location. NORAD also set up a temporary call centre to answer children's questions. The tracker experienced technical difficulties but was fixed later. NORAD conducts aerospace and maritime control and warning operations when not tracking Santa.
In addition to tracking Santa, there is a rich history behind his iconic image. The red and white suit that Santa Claus is known for today evolved over time, with key features established after Clement Clarke Moore's 1823 poem 'A Visit from St. Nicholas'. Earlier influences include depictions of St. Nicholas in red robes, as well as the Dutch Sinterklaas and the French Père Noël. Interestingly, Coca-Cola's advertisements in 1931 played a significant role in popularizing the warm and jolly image of Santa, although they did not create his look. Early interpretations of Santa varied widely, with some illustrations showing him in a yellow suit in 1864 and a fur-lined red cape in 1837. This evolution reflects how cultural influences and marketing have shaped the modern perception of Santa Claus over the years. [3d31ad07] [dd7c7432] [d4411d8a]