The annual aerial surveillance attracts millions through phone calls, emails and the Internet. This year, you can also track the journey on Facebook and Twitter.
NORAD's holiday tradition can by traced to 1955, when a Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears ad telling children of a phone number to talk to Santa. The number was one digit off, and the first child to get through reached the Continental Air Defense Command, NORAD's predecessor.
Col. Harry W. Shoup answered and played along, giving birth to a tradition which continues with volunteers to this day.
You can track Santa at www.noradsanta.org.