How excited are we? We’re only hours away from the magical moment when Santa Claus reaches us here in West Wales, delivering special gifts to thousands of children on the Nice list. Did you know that with the NORAD and Google trackers, you and the kids can track Santa Claus live on his joyful journey? It’s a brilliant way to add to the Christmas Eve excitement.
Following Santa’s Christmas Journey
Thanks to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and Google’s live Santa tracker, we can follow Santa Claus around the world and find out when we can expect him here in the UK. It’s become a proper Christmas Eve tradition, huddled around the tablet with hot chocolate, watching that little sleigh icon move across the map.
Santa’s journey is an incredibly busy one. After checking his list twice, he sets off on his sleigh with his beloved reindeer to travel roughly 510,000,000 km, covering about 1,800 miles per second. That means he visits something like 390,000 homes per minute. No wonder we never catch a glimpse of him!
Santa starts in the South Pacific at the Republic of Kiribati, then heads west to New Zealand, Australia and Japan, then off to Asia, Africa and Western Europe, before crossing the Atlantic to Canada, the USA, Mexico and South America. By the time he reaches Wales, he’s already been working for hours!
How to Track Santa with NORAD and Google
NORAD’s Official Santa Tracker uses their aerospace technology to monitor Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. We’ve embedded the live tracker below so you can watch Santa travel the world in real time. You can also visit their website here for games, music and Santa’s Village to explore while you wait.
Google also has a live Santa tracker with loads of games, which you can visit here. Both work slightly differently, so some families like to compare them.
Just make sure you’re not up too late watching, because Santa won’t stop at yours if you’re not asleep in bed! We’ve found this is brilliant for encouraging reluctant sleepers. “Look, he’s just left Germany… better get to bed before he reaches Wales!” Works a treat.
Keep the Christmas Magic Going
Crossing our fingers that we all made it onto the Nice list! While you’re tracking Santa Claus live on Christmas Eve, why not enter our Win This Adorable Pippin Penguin Soft Toy competition? This cuddly Arctic friend is perfect for Christmas and it’s free to enter.
For even more festive inspiration, pop over to our Family Life at Christmas section. You’ll find local events, ideas of what to leave out for Santa, and yummy Christmas recipes to make together.
Happy tracking!
