Operation Merry Christmas is what we call the effort to get Santa around the world. If you haven’t figured out what that means for every elf, not just trackers, then spend some time over at SantaUpdate.com looking it up and reading about it.
As part of our Tracker Elf Conference survey we got a lot of questions about Operation Merry Christmas and the part that tracker elves play in it.
Your part is being played out right now, elves. Every week on a given day your Elf Supervisor shares an update on progress within your sector and gives you instruction for the next week. Santa also gives you a little note in each of those updates.
This whole method of getting reports into North Pole Flight Command is new this year. It was Santa’s idea and right now it appears to be working out very well. The reports I’ve received from both Flight Command and Santa is that we have more information and better information earlier than we have in our history. This has already been a historic and record breaking year because of this new plan Santa has been pushing all year long.
Below are some very detailed questions we have received about our duties as tracker elves and I want to answer each one of them.
Q: How are the changes made to the website going to affect tracking this year (compared to previous year)?
A: They are affecting things already. You are following instructions well. The reports we are receiving are coming in a lot earlier. In the past, most elves waited until about 24 hours to get reports sent in to Flight Command, if they sent any in at all. What we found was that elves came to the website to track Santa but not to actually help him. That’s changed already and it will also be a little different when Santa takes off on December 23rd. You might be surprised.
Q: Will there be specific reports needed on Christmas Eve?
A: Yes. They will be different than the reports you currently see. They will be shorter. They will be quick to fill out. And they will vary from Sector to Sector depending on Santa’s needs.
Q: How do we keep track of instructions?
A: You gotta know your way around the website, for sure. You also have to know who your Elf Supervisor is, what Sector you are in, and what time updates will be posted asking you to do something. That was part of the plan in getting elves to do reports earlier. If you’re paying attention, by Christmas Eve this won’t be a problem for you. If you’re new and haven’t spent time on the site, you’re going to struggle.
Q: What if we move in December, how does that affect our accuracy and duties?
A: It doesn’t matter where you live. It also does not matter if you are spending Christmas somewhere other than your own home (say you’re visiting family members over Christmas). Just do your job wherever you are. The value is in sending information about wherever you are. Because Santa is going to want to go where you are. No matter where that is.
Q: Will we know when Santa will be in our area before people who are not elves?
A: Possibly, it just depends on what’s going on. Santa generally delivers between 10pm and 4am local time. That’s the window he gives himself to get his job done. But it is a big window. Just remember that when Santa is pushing a new speed record he tends to arrive earlier than later. Sometimes, if conditions warrant it, you might know Santa’s arrival time in advance IF there is information he needs from your general area. But you’ll have to be really listening to your Elf Supervisor to be included in that.
Q: How will Santa tracking look like this year?
A: We are curious about that too! We are anxious to see how all this new information changes things as we follow Santa. We have a number of questions about tracking Santa that we will be answering separate from this list.
Q: What is the ideal flight time for this years operation?
A: Excellent question. We begin our broadcast on Kringle Radio of Tracking Santa around the World at 5am EST – which is a good 18 hours before Santa even launches. That radio coverage goes until about 6am EST on Christmas morning. So about 50 hours total. Santa’s actual flight time will come in between 30 and 35 hours, if he keeps up with the pace of the last few years. He’s trying to get it done in less than 30 hours. He’s never done that before and it is a big goal for him. He’s been trying to do that the past 25 years. Not sure if this year’s sleigh will take him to that level or not. We’ll see.
Q: Operation Merry Christmas’s goal this year is that we need a billion quality reports, what else does Santa want us to keep in mind?
A: Another outstanding question. Santa wants you to be ready. I have a feeling, given the current pace of reports coming in, that our report goal is going to be met before Santa takes flight. And that actually has me a little bit worried. I don’t want tracker elves out there thinking that since the goal has been met the job is done. Santa might need you after he takes off. So you’ll want to be ready and available as you can be for anything that your Elf Supervisor asks for.
Q: If we lost connection with Santa how would we be able to track him again?
A: Hopefully that won’t happen. But, it’s a good thing to think about especially when you consider the wisdom Santa has had in having us report early. Remember, there are MILLIONS of elves at the North Pole and around the world working December 23rd and December 24th. There are a lot of people working to make sure we all stay connected.
Q: Could we please get a update on witch place Santa is in, so we can mark it on our maps?
A: We have three websites, official to the North Pole, that you need to follow especially after Santa launches. First, SantaUpdate.com, our main news site, you pretty much want to check at least twice per hour. It will update you on Santa’s location and share the latest North Pole Radio news report. Second, this site, SantaTrackers.net – this site is for elves and elves alone. Here is where you will get inside information about Santa’s flight. Check here often. Third, NorthPoleFlightCommand.com – it’s mostly going to be posting bedtime warnings. But once Santa gets started in Sector 1 it’s pretty steady posting a couple of times an hour. It will definitely clue you in to where Santa is heading. Also, Kringle Radio will be available on each of these sites. Be listening in because your favorite elf, Elf Crash Murphy, is following Santa in the sleigh and he gives the best news reports in the world. You heard it here first. Oh – one other thing – I like this question because it references your own map – a paper map, I believe – and I want you to know this is an excellent idea and it will make tracking Santa better for you. Definitely do this.
Q: What is the most efficient way to track Santa? What method gets the job done best?
A: Good, good question, and I’m glad you asked it (Elf Buddy Frost). First, as stated above, get a paper map and MARK it. You’ll learn a lot by doing this. Second, stay only on official North Pole websites. Stay away from non-North Pole websites such as search engines, social media, military or airport websites, media websites like radio stations and other such “news” sites – they will lead you astray and may confuse you because they ARE NOT tied to North Pole Flight Command. If you want accurate, real information about Santa’s actual flight path and timetable, you’ll need to stick with the North Pole.
Q: In the case of a computer crash, is the new track Santa info by text enough to track Santa on a physical wall map ?
A: Not likely. The text thing is great but it will be limited in how many texts we send out. Too many texts tend to overwhelm non-elf believers out there, believe it or not and they can and do sign up for the texts too.
Q: If Santa picks his nose, where do the boogers land?
A: Max, Max, Max. No more questions from you, pal.
Guys, I know you likely have more questions. Don’t be shy. Ask away. You can post them in the comments on this article or you can post them on the Elf Wall. Better to do it now than on December 23rd. Right now we’ve got elves who can answer. So ask away.
Always an entertaining read, Crash!
Thank you for answering my question Crash! My sister had another very interesting question. She would like to know, what is Santa’s procedure for those who celebrate Christmas on a different? We learned not all cultures celebrate Christmas on the 25th and some do not have santa bringing the gifts. What does Santa do about them? Thank you Crash!
Thank you, Elf Crash!! Yeah, these are so grateful and useful. Some of them are what I wanted to know. I’m glad we can help Santa and the Flight Command more this year.^^ okay, I’ll follow our supervisor until Santa is okay. Oh, I have a question, can people who are not elves read the news here on Santatrakers.net even if they know the URL? Thank you, and Merry Christmas! ^^