Monday, December 24, 2012
The North American Aerospace Defense Command has a website that now offers a Santa tracker mobile app to follow the jolly man's magical flight.
They sent him their wish lists, sat on his lap, and left cookies and milk for his arrival. Now the only thing left for children to do is track Santa's progress as he delivers gifts around the world on Christmas Eve. Thanks to the folks behind the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) website, families worldwide can now follow Santa's Christmas journey in real time. The tradition started in 1955 after an advertisement for Sears Roebuck & Co. misprinted a telephone number for a special "Santa hotline." Instead of reaching Kris Kringle, the number put kids through to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Commander-in-Chief’s operations, according to a description on the NORAD Tracks Santa Facebook page, which has more than …
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Many will put out their shoes or stockings Dec. 5 in hopes that St. Nicholas will leave them a little something for his Dec. 6 feast day. Read about the tradition.
In some cultures and faiths, St. Nicholas visits well before Christmas. Many Christians recognize St. Nicholas' feast day on Dec. 6. Who was St. Nick? He was born in 280 AD in Asia Minor. His parents died when he was young, leaving him great wealth. The saint was known for doing good deeds and sharing his wealth, such as anonymously delivering sacks of gold to those in need in the dark of night. He is recognized as a saint in many Catholic and Christian churches. The American Santa Claus, or Old Saint Nick, was derived from the actual St. Nicholas. The day is celebrated widely in some countries. In Germany, children put out boots, or Nikolaus-Stiefel, outside on the eve of the Feast Day, in hopes that the saint will leave them treats or …
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Thanks to a very special U.S. Postal Service program, "Santa" will reply to children who mail him their Christmas wish lists this holiday season.
Every year, millions of children sit down to make a wish list for Santa, hoping he will make all of their Christmas dreams come true. But what if Santa actually wrote back? The United States Postal Service is now accepting "Letters From Santa," a program that allows any person to play Santa by sending a letter signed by Saint Nick to any child. According to a postal service news release, "The 'Letters From Santa' program helps parents fulfill the dreams of their own children." Instructions to send a letter from Santa: In Shelby Township and Utica, letters to Santa can be dropped off at any post office location. TELL US: Do your children or children in your family plan on writing a letter to Santa this year?
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Thanks to NORAD, children young and old can keep track of Santa Claus as he journeys around the world toward Michigan.
For 364 days out of the year, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) spends its time tracking airplanes, missiles, space ships—anything flying near the United States and Canada. But on Christmas Eve, a team of volunteers spends the night tracking a very special pilot: Santa Claus. "We are the only organization that has the technology, the qualifications and the people to do it," NORAD said on its website. "NORAD tracks Santa, but only Santa knows his route, which means we cannot predict where and when he will arrive at your house." Santa usually starts at the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean and travels west, NORAD noticed, meaning he moves from the South Pacific to New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe …
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Santa, his wife Mrs. Claus and Frosty the snowman hosted a pancake breakfast Saturday at the Shelby Community Center and began taking Wish List orders.
Nearly 200 parents, grandparents and children gnashed on pancakes and visited with Santa Claus and his wife at the Shelby Township Community Center Saturday. The first batch of excited and freighted children ate at 9:30 a.m. and the second batch dined at 11:30 a.m. Parks and Recreations Director Tim Youngwood, with the help of volunteers from the Eisenhower Key Club, served breakfast. After kids filled their bellies with pancakes, sausage and juice, they visited with Cora Bell the Clown and made paper tree ornaments. Then, it was time for the main event: one-on-one time with Santa. Most kids were just excited to sit on the Jolly Old Soul's lap and confess their deepest Christmas desires, but some of the little ones were just outright …
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Barb
3:08 am on Monday, December 26, 2011
Just discovered this site through an 8 year old's eyes on Christmas Eve. It was so cool. While we watched Santa's progress, we clicked on all the green video cameras and had a history and geography lesson from those as well. Great website!! more ›