Santa Tracker Record Broken: NORAD Answers 102,000 Phone Calls With Help From Michelle Obama

Every year NORAD answers thousands of calls from curious children around the world. This year, the North American Aerospace Defense Command center answered a record breaking 102,000 calls on Christmas Eve with the help of first lady Michelle Obama.

The tradition started in 1955 when a magazine ad misprinted Santa’s phone number. More and more children have called NORAD every year in an attempt to locate Santa and last night a new record was set. The New York Daily News reports that NORAD answered 102,000 calls last night, shattering the previous record of 80,000 calls.

Michelle Obama, who is currently spending the holiday in Hawaii, also answered a few calls on Christmas Eve.

Michelle said:

“It is wonderful to be part of this holiday tradition. I love answering calls from children who were anxious to learn where Santa was and when he would arrive at their home. I passed on to each child the current location of Santa and reminded them that he would come to their house only after they were in bed sleeping.”

NORAD also answered questions about Santa on Facebook and Twitter. The NORAD Facebook page had close to a million likes this morning.

Did you use NORAD’s Santa tracker last night?