This Christmas, many children welcomed a familiar visitor – a jolly man in a red suit and a sleigh full of gifts. But the bearded figure Americans recognize today as Santa Claus is a relatively modern creation,

Check out the trackers to see Santa's location: NORAD Tracks Santa started 70 years ago, after a child accidentally dialed the unlisted phone number of the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Operations Center in Colorado Springs, hoping to reach Santa Claus.

Santa Claus is comin' to town! What time does he get to Ireland? Follow his journey with NORAD's Santa tracker 2025.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, is again tracking Santa and his eight tiny reindeer as they make their trek around the world this Christmas. The organization, a joint effort between the U.S. and Canada, tracks everything that flies in and around both countries.

Santa Claus is coming to town — and he's down with the digital age. The big picture: The old Santa model consisted of a long line of tiny tots waiting for a camera, a chair and a photo op. The mall Santa still exists,

Santa Claus leads a group of children in the singing of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" during a Santa Claus School graduation ceremony at the Red Lion Inn on Monday, September 5, 2011. Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images The Local ...

Every year, Santa Claus races around the globe in a matter of hours to bring presents to children all over the world.

Understandably, children are curious about the bearded man in red. There’s a lot of magic wrapped up in Santa's story - and Christmas itself is one of the most joyful times of the year, full of festive mystery.