In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the hills we go
Laughing all the way.
Bells on bobtail ring
Making spirits bright.
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight."
It's again time to sing these lyrics as Christmas is almost here. Singing Carols, hanging those mistletoes-n-yuletides, expanse of snow all around and the sprawling decorations adorning the Christmas tree is the quintessential imagery that comes to one's mind. For the kids, its the gifts that the Santa and his Elves would deliver from the faraway North Pole on his sleigh with Rudolph - the red nosed reindeer leading the way. The real brownie point is the Christmas morning, when the year long wait to unwrap the gifts, tucked neatly under the tree, comes undone. Delightful !
Well Google has taken the "HO HO HO " spirit one step further.
Google had been collaborating with NORAD to locate Santa since 2007. The NORAD is a joint air defence command and control organization between USA and Canada that monitors suspect man-made objects entering the space, including missiles and anti-aircraft vehicles. Doesn't it sound funny that such a strategic organization is involved in a project that more or less is fiction; a figment of our imagination purely.
Following its fall out with NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command), it has launched its own "Santa Tracker", to trace the anticipated route of Santa's sleigh this Christmas Eve. Officially it will hit the markets only on 24th December, but the site showcases a countdown clock before the journey kick-starts to track Santa's trail on Google Maps and Earth.
In addition to games and animations, tagged as Santa's village, the site has facilitated workable links for Android devices, Facebook, Chrome, Twitter and Google+.
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The supposed St. Nick a.k.a Santa Claus is a 16 centuries old tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. If history is to be believed, supposedly what the NORAD team also upholds, the tradition of Santa Claus is rooted in the Mid-East. In 1955, a St.Nick's address was floated, claiming to have found this benevolent Christian priest, known to distribute gifts and gold down chimneys and stockings to the underprivileged.
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As a parallel move to its erstwhile partner's move, NORAD has joined hands with Microsoft to launch a Santa Tracker services for Windows Phone, Google Play, iPhone and Windows 8 apps. What's interesting is that despite the break-up of the collaborative effort, both the parties still are stuck together on one count-their YouTube channel. One can sure look to catch some hi-speed Flying Santa videos this time!
And all those people who don the Santa garbs, just to bring on some smiles, need not be afraid. The kids still believe in this makeshift reality. We hope Google succeeds to keep up in the game.
So here's wishing everybody a very Merry Christmas!
Do leave us your comments and experiences for us below.
You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook page and subscribe to our RSS feeds for more.
And all those people who don the Santa garbs, just to bring on some smiles, need not be afraid. The kids still believe in this makeshift reality. We hope Google succeeds to keep up in the game.
So here's wishing everybody a very Merry Christmas!
Do leave us your comments and experiences for us below.
You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook page and subscribe to our RSS feeds for more.
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