Santa Tracker 2022: 70 Years of Holiday Magic
2022 marked a momentous milestone in Christmas tracking history - the 70th anniversary of NORAD Tracks Santa! What began as a serendipitous mistake in 1955, when a child called a misprinted Sears ad number and reached the Continental Air Defense Command, has grown into a beloved global tradition. Our tracker honored this legacy with special features showcasing the history of Santa tracking, from the early days of radar technology to modern satellite tracking. Veterans of the NORAD Santa program shared their memories, and we introduced an interactive timeline showing how tracking technology has evolved over seven decades. The highlight of the year was a special commemorative event at NORAD headquarters, where military families gathered to celebrate the tradition. Santa even made a special flyby in his stealthiest sleigh yet!
Tracking Statistics
Key metrics from Santa's 2022 journey
Total Tracker Visits
Countries Tracked
Gifts Delivered
Hours Online
Peak Simultaneous Users
Santa's Journey Route
Follow Santa's path around the world on Christmas Eve
Scroll horizontally to see full map • Tap markers for details
Key Milestones
Important moments from the 2022 tracking season
70th Anniversary Countdown Begins
Month-long celebration of NORAD Tracks Santa history begins.
Jolly: “And so it begins! My sensors are BUZZING with excitement!”
Interactive Timeline Launch
New feature showing 70 years of Santa tracking technology evolution.
Jolly: “And so it begins! My sensors are BUZZING with excitement!”
NORAD Anniversary Celebration
Special event at NORAD headquarters honoring the tracking tradition.
Jolly: “My data banks love tracking these special moments!”
Santa's 70th Journey Begins
Santa embarks on his journey, honored to be part of such a special tradition.
Jolly: “And so it begins! My sensors are BUZZING with excitement!”