For more than 50 years, NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa's Christmas Eve flight.
The tradition began in 1955 after a Colorado Springs-based Sears Roebuck & Co. advertisement for children to call Santa misprinted the telephone number. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone number put kids through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief's operations "hotline." The Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff check radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Children who called were given updates on his location, and a tradition was born.
You can track the Santa sightings in real-time via NORAD's dedicated site, noradsanta.org. They also have a cool 3D tracking version available here.
T’was the night before Christmas, the north pole all a huss
Santa was busy, as the elves made a fuss,
So many children to visit all in one night,
Rudolf’s getting older and losing his sight.
Don’t worry said Santa as he reached in his bag full of toys
“I’ll try this great Nuvi oh what joys”
A quick tap on the screen to mark the next place
“Using the routing I’m sure to keep pace,
Longitude, Latitude, my favorites to muse,
Rudolf’s red nose, I’ll no longer need use”
The elves who were worried had nothing to fear.
They all gather round and started to cheer.
Time was a flying as was the snow,
So Santa looked to Rudolf and quickly pushed “GO”
The Nuvi responded with directions so clear,.
The first house showed up ever so near
The elves heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight,
“Go Rudolf, Go Nuvi, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good-night!”
Merry Christmas Fletch