How to Track Santa Online

What's This?

By Eric Larson2013-12-05 13:02:00 UTC

Santa Claus is a peculiar fellow. Watching millions of kids around the world while they sleep? Making empty promises on elaborate gifts? Breaking into houses, damaging chimney structures and stockpiling half the world's baked goods?

Ho-ho-hold the damn phone, sir.*

Unless you're an NSA employee or experienced hacker, it's tough to know — exactly — what ol' Kris Kringle is really up to during his 11-month off-season in the Great North. Thankfully, for skeptics and fans alike, there's a sleighful of online tools that track his every move during the on-season, broadcasting his home invasions gift deliveries IRL.

We rounded up a few of our favorites below. Take a gander, and remember to stay cautious this Christmas (also: Happy Holidays.)

*Just kidding. Mashable hearts Santa.

1. NORAD Tracks Santa

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The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Tracks Santa program has been a staple Christmas entertainment tool for more than 50 years. This year, the website is getting a high-tech makeover, complete with a 3D pinch-and-zoom globe, games, music and live updates of St. Nick's whereabouts.

The new-and-improved site is designed for Microsoft's Internet Explorer 11, but it will work with any browser. It's also optimized for tablets with apps for both Android and iOS devices.

On the night of Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, the site will enable its 3D globe. Anyone with an updated browser will be able to spin it and, using Bing Maps, zoom in on Santa's stops throughout the evening.

2. Google Santa Tracker

Screen Shot 2013-12-02 at 1.02.39 PM Google Santa Tracker also kicks off on Christmas Eve with a behind-the-scenes look at Kringle's dashboard — powered, of course, by Google Maps. According to the site, users will be able to track the big man's progress and "learn a little about some of his stops along the way."

Users can play games on the site in the meantime, such as a reindeer race with Santa and his sleigh team. According to a blog post, a Santa Tracker app for both Android devices and Google Glass will be available for download in mid-December.

On Christmas Eve, Santa-trackers can search the word "Santa" in Google Maps and find his exact location.

3. Google Chrome Extension

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As an addition to its tracker website, Google is also offering a Chrome extension (pictured above), which links to the site proper and lets you activate custom animations on your desktop, such as falling snow, a reindeer blimp and a holiday van driven by Santa's elves.

4. Social Media

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Both NORAD and Google are keeping Santa active on social media. For NORAD, there are both Facebook and Twitter pages that users can follow.

There's a Facebook page for Google Santa Tracker, though it appears to be largely inactive and it isn't clear if it's officially affiliated with Google.

Still haven't made up your mind about Santa? Take a look at these "Bad Kringle" cards and make a final call: