Where Is Father Christmas Now? Tracking Santa’s 2025 Christmas Journey

The Magic of Tracking Father Christmas

As Christmas Day arrives in 2025, millions of families around the world are asking the same question: where is Father Christmas now? Thanks to modern technology and a 70-year-old tradition, tracking Santa Claus as he delivers presents across the globe has become a beloved holiday ritual that combines festive magic with cutting-edge satellite tracking.

NORAD’s map shows Santa has completed this year’s journey from the North Pole to deliver gifts to children around the world. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has been following Santa’s Christmas Eve journey since 1955, making this the 70th year of the Santa tracking mission.

How the Tradition Started

The heartwarming tradition began quite by accident. The tradition got its start when a child accidentally called the CONAD Operations Center after seeing an advertisement in the newspaper that encouraged readers to call Santa. The individual that answered that phone didn’t want to disappoint the child on the other end, and just went with it. And it has turned into an annual, recurring Track Santa operation ever since.

Tracking Santa’s Route in Real-Time

Beginning early in the morning on Dec. 24, NORAD begins tracking Santa’s path from the North Pole and maps his journey as he delivers presents to children around the world. Santa’s route began by taking him down the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean. He moved westward from there, with his first stops being in the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia.

Families can follow Father Christmas through multiple platforms. NORAD’s Santa Claus tracker website — NORADSanta.org — includes a map that allows users to track Santa’s location in real time. The site attracts tens of millions of visitors every year. Additionally, updates are posted on the agency’s Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube pages.

How to Track Santa Today

There are several ways to discover where Father Christmas is right now. You can call 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877 446-6723) to get a live update from one of the call center operators over the phone. Operators are available from 4 a.m. Mountain Time (6 a.m. Eastern) until midnight MT (2 a.m. ET). The NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center is staffed by uniformed personnel and civilian volunteers to answer phone calls and provide updates on Santa’s location.

Google also offers its own Santa tracker, which has changed and improved since it launched in 2004. The team uses this project to try out new technologies and make design updates.

The Significance for Families Today

The Santa tracker represents more than just holiday entertainment. In a world increasingly powered by technology, the NORAD Santa Tracker is a reminder that high-tech tools can still fuel simple joy. Whether a child is watching Santa ‘approach’ their town or a parent is reliving holiday nostalgia, this tradition blends imagination with innovation.

As Christmas continues, the question ‘where is Father Christmas now?’ connects generations of families in shared wonder, proving that even in our digital age, the magic of Christmas remains as powerful as ever.