【精英翻譯】的部落格

NORAD’s Holiday Mission追蹤聖誕老人

精英翻譯社轉自: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0062/334997/web/

This military organization helps kids track Santa’s progress around the world every Christmas.
這個軍事機構每年聖誕節都幫孩童追蹤聖誕老人在全球的進度。

NORAD is a military organization that was created to stop enemy planes from attacking the US and Canada. The people of this organization take their jobs very seriously. However, every Christmas Eve they take on a special mission. NORAD staff use their advanced equipment to track Santa Claus across the world so that curious children can tell when Santa is on the way.

北美空防司令部是為阻止敵機襲擊美國及加拿大而設置的軍事機構。該組織裡的成員都相當嚴肅地看待他們的工作。然而，他們在每年的聖誕夜都有一項特別任務。北美空防司令部的人員使用他們的先進設備在全球追蹤聖誕老人，如此一來好奇的孩子便能知道聖誕老人什麼時候要來。

This unusual mission started in 1955, when a US newspaper ran an adinviting children to call Santa. By mistake, the newspaper printed NORAD’s telephone number on the ad. When NORAD workers received these calls, they didn’t want to disappoint the children. So, they pretended to be Santa’s helpers and gave updates on where Santa was flying.

這項不尋常的任務始於 1955 年，當時美國有一家報紙刊登著邀請孩童打電話給聖誕老人的廣告。出於失誤，這家報紙在廣告上印了北美空防司令部的電話號碼。北美空防司令部的人員接到這些電話時，他們並不想讓孩子們失望。所以，他們假裝成聖誕老人的助手，並提供聖誕老人要飛往哪裡的最新消息。

It’s been over 60 years since then, and the tradition is still alive. Last Christmas, 1,500 volunteers answered more than 150,000 calls about Santa. Kids can also check on Santa by using social media or a special app. Although the tradition is lots of fun, NORAD is serious about doing a good job. It even created a handbook to help soldiers answer questions about Santa. Thanks to NORAD’s protection, it seems certain that Santa will arrive safe and soundwherever he goes.

在那之後已過了六十多年，而這個傳統依然存在著。去年聖誕節，有一千五百位志工接了十五萬多通詢問聖誕老人的電話。孩子們也可以藉由使用社群媒體或是一款特別的應用程式來查看聖誕老人的動向。雖然這個傳統樂趣十足，不過北美空防司令部可是很認真地想做好這份工作。他們甚至製作一本幫助軍人們回答關於聖誕老人問題的手冊。多虧有北美空防司令部的保護，聖誕老人不管到哪去一定都能安然無恙。