On Christmas Eve, NORAD pauses its serious military duties to track Santa Claus. This special tradition started in 1955 when a mistaken phone number led a military officer to play along and tell children Santa was on radar. Since then, NORAD has used its high-tech tools—radars, infrared satellites, and fighter jets—to track Santa’s journey around the world. The northern warning radars spot Santa as he leaves the North Pole. Infrared satellites pick up the heat of Rudolph's glowing red nose, similar to how they detect missile launches. NORAD fighter jets sometimes escort the sleigh, confirming its path. The tradition is delivered seriously with no jokes, making it feel special and real. NORAD opens its Santa Tracker website every December 24. It shows a live map of Santa’s route with fun trivia and updates on gifts delivered. There is also a mobile app and social media updates. Thousands of volunteers, many military personnel, answer calls worldwide, sharing Santa's location and details. NORAD does not pretend it’s real but keeps a straight face to preserve the magic. For one night, the usual watch for threats shifts to watching for joy and generosity, offering a heartwarming break from the usual military grind.