How A Wrong Number Sparked A Christmas Tradition Loved Worldwide
Nearly 70 years ago, a child’s call to a top-secret military line set the stage for one of the world’s most beloved Christmas traditions: NORAD’s Santa Tracker. What began as a mistake during the Cold War has since grown into an international phenomenon.
In December 1955, the red phone at the Continental Air Defense Command (now NORAD) rang — a number reserved for emergencies to alert the military of any North American threats. When Commanding Officer Colonel Harry Shoup answered, he was surprised to hear a child asking, “Is this Santa Claus?”
Initially thinking it was a prank, Shoup’s tone changed when the boy began to cry. After playing along as Santa, Shoup learned the number had appeared in a Sears department store ad by mistake. The ad had promised children they could “call Santa personally any time.”
The calls didn’t stop. Shoup, a father of four, decided to embrace the mix-up, assigning two airmen to answer the phone as Santa. That year, staff even added a sleigh and reindeer to a large board used for tracking aircraft. When Shoup saw the addition, he approved, calling a radio station to report, “We have an unidentified flying object. Why, it looks like a sleigh!”
What started as a joke evolved into a cherished tradition. NORAD began releasing updates on Santa’s journey each Christmas Eve. By the 1960s, prerecorded updates were sent to radio stations, and by the 1970s, the tracker appeared on TV.
Today, the Santa Tracker spans the globe, with more than 1,250 volunteers — both military and civilian — answering calls and emails each Christmas Eve. Families can also track Santa online, via a free app, or even through Amazon’s Alexa. The website is available in nine languages, ensuring it remains a worldwide favorite.
Colonel Shoup, who passed away in 2009, is remembered not only for his distinguished military career but for creating a tradition that has delighted generations. Shoup’s daughter, Terri Van Keuren, continues to volunteer, carrying on her father’s legacy.
