With Christmas Eve 2025 now upon us, the North Pole is a hive of activity as Santa Claus makes his final preparations for his global gift-giving journey. For the children of the Illawarra region, the big man in red has sent a special, personalised message to ensure they are ready for his arrival.
Santa's Three Simple Rules for a Merry Christmas
In his exclusive message to the Illawarra Mercury, Santa reported being "busy, busy, busy" but took time to remind local kids of his three essential rules for Christmas morning magic. "Before I can land my sleigh near the escarpment and start delivering gifts, I need to know you are all following my three simple rules," Santa declared.
His first rule is a classic: "Be good. Have you been extra kind and helpful today?" With the festive Elves now concluding their December home visits, Santa urged children to bid their merry friends farewell and get to bed promptly to clear the way for his own visit.
The second rule is non-negotiable for any successful delivery. "I can only visit houses where everyone is snug in their beds," he explained. "Not a creature should be stirring, not even a mouse. So tuck yourselves in right now."
Finally, Santa revealed what sustenance he and his team would appreciate after their long journey. "Leave a treat, a little snack for me, and maybe some carrots and oats for my hungry reindeer would be great," he said with a hint of festive cheer.
Tracking the World's Oldest Flying Machine
Before heading off to sleep, children and the young at heart can chart Santa's incredible journey across the globe. Flight tracking service Flightradar24 is once again partnering with the North Pole to monitor Santa's sleigh, which it describes as the oldest active airframe in the world.
According to the tracker, Santa's sleigh is a unique 9-engine Rangifer tarandus registered with the call sign HOHOHO (MSN 0001). Astonishingly, the sleigh is 1,753 years old. While the vehicle itself is ancient, a ninth engine was added relatively recently to cope with foggy conditions on a Christmas Eve flight.
"This nose so bright has guided Santa's way each Christmas Eve since 1939," the Flightradar24 team noted, referencing Rudolph's famous luminous proboscis.
Modern Tech for a Timeless Tradition
In recent years, Santa's workshop has embraced modern aviation technology to ensure a smooth and trackable flight. The radar service confirmed that an ADS-B transponder was installed on the sleigh, allowing for precise positional tracking and helping children know when to finally settle down for the night.
To facilitate communication with air traffic control worldwide, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has officially granted the sleigh the type designation SLEI.
Families can follow Santa's progress in real-time on December 24, 2025, by using the Flightradar24 Santa Tracker link or by searching for keywords like SANTA1, HOHOHO, or R3DNO53 on the platform.
So, as the clock ticks down to Christmas morning in the Illawarra, children are encouraged to heed Santa's advice: be good, get to bed early, leave out a snack, and then dream of the joy that the festive dawn will bring.
