this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. ♪

♪ said the way up in the sky ♪ little lamb ♪ do you see what i see? ♪ a star, a star dancing in the night ♪ ♪ with a tail as big as a kite ♪ ♪ with a tail as big as a kite ♪ ♪ said the little lamb to the shepherd boy do you hear what i hear? ♪ yes, wow! thank you, kids. >> it is christmas day, december 25th, and very mr ri one to all of you. and those are the sweet sounds of the detroit arts and sounds choir. thank you so much. >> that is gorgeous. congratulations. we will have more music to keep you in the spirit as train is going to sing one of the very

first songs off of their christmas album. >> and we have great ideas to welcome your holiday table. and you can make it so crowded are there to room for the potatoes. >> and what is christmas without a few hearty animals and not the ones from your book, but we will have the animals to help us open presents. okay. whatever that is. and it is going to be fun. >> all right. now, if you were unable to make it to a nativity scene this holiday, we are have brought it to you. last december more than 1,000 people came together dressed as angels to create a nativity scene in provo, utah. >> they are in the guinness book of world records for the largest, and they have joined with the mormon tabernacle choir to capture a truly beautiful moment.

>> oh, beautiful. >> and sometimes we are talking about christmas, and a lot of kids are probably at home opening presents, and that kind of stuff, but is there more to christmas? >> we found out by sending donna adorable to the streets to ask kids what they think of when they think of christmas? >> going to church, and cutting down the tree. >> celebrating jesus' birthday. >> peace on earth. >> spending time with my family. >> being together with the family. >> and we always bake together and have a lot of fun. >> we play snowballs with our dad. >> i like to watch "frosty the snowman." >> i like to snuggle with mom. >> i want to give the kids toys and what they need so they will have a happy christmas. >> okay. how happy are you? >> out of the mouths off babes. >> yes. >> and let's play a little game. >> okay. >> and this is called covered or

uncovered. and we will play some christmas songs, and try the guess who is singing it. not easy to guess. >> i get these wrong all of the time. >> okay. play with us. here is the first one. ♪ these are a few of my favorite things ♪ ♪ when the dog fights ♪ when the bee stings >> who is that? >> please remember my favorite thing things, and a few of my favorite things. >> kelly clarkson. >> she has a beautiful voice. >> okay. what can we get wrong next? >> joyful all ye nations rise -- >> okay. what's the next one? ♪ i'm dreaming of a white christmas ♪ >> it is a country artist. >> it a duet. >> dixie chicks?

little big town? taylor swift? it sounded like a duet. is it just one. >> taylor. just taylor. >> i'm having trouble. >> all right. let's go on. >> how softly our christmas ships come sailing in on christmas morning. >> and the next one? >>. ♪ o christmas tree ♪ o christmas tree >> it is reba. >> where was fetty wap. >> and is there something called gift face? >> and now when you get a present and someone hands you a present what face do you make

when you get what you are or are not making? >> you make this one. oh, i love it. and there is a commercial out for the uk department store harvey nickels showing you what gift face is all about. >> i think that you will like it. mum, this is for you. and lizzy, darling, this is for you. >> oh. >> this is so they won't go stiff, and there is a hand towel in there. i knew she'd like them. >> you said that you wanted to read more. do you like it? >> this is even better than last year's. >> oh. >> i really do love it. >> oh, that is funny. yeah, yeah. would you rather not have a gift than to have one that you

pretend, i mean, you can be grateful and not like something. right, somebody thought -- >> i know, but don't you think of, this is exactly what is the perfect -- >> remember that gift i gave you. nevermind. >> but you know when you hand somebody something, and you pined over it, and they give you gift face? >> yeah. >> all right. >> so let's figure this out. you know how people say christmas around the world -- there joy, noel. >> and you are give iing them a away. >> and i only know the french. >> fa leliz nav. >> this is italian. buon natale. there and this one, joyeux noel. >> all right. >> why is the person repeating

everything? >> we are getting rid of the christmas spirit. >> and you know the rosetta stone, and trying to learn it. >> is that it? >> vesele vanoce. >> that is swedish or something? >> czech. >> okay. way to go. never heard hello in czech, have you. feliz natal. >> oh, it is russian. >> is it portuguese. >> oh, good one. >> brazil. >> how did you nknow that? >> because -- >> well, don't tell me. >> okay. the real hoda is what you are seeing on christmas day. oh. >> boldog ka are racsonyt. >> russian? >> no, it is something else.

serbian. >> slovak. >> oh, that was fun. >> okay. any time you can make us look like complete idiots, thank you. how fun for you. we want to thank luciano. >> you guys are all good? the singers and the dancers are all good. >> i hope that we are going have them sing again or they are going to be tired. >> yes, they aret at attention. >> and regis the elf on the shelf has been all over the shelves, and some have their own elf at homes, too. >> and they are all headed back to the north pole, and until next year. so we wanted to know about is some of the mischief. and lisa's elff likes to fish in the dog bowl. >> and ralph and scout made a zip line to the christmas tree. >> and this one went sledding on

the chimney. >> jackie's elf star the enjoyed a spa day. >> and ashley welch's elf bruce spruce got into trouble with elsa. >> and kerry joe russell's elff protected the family from the dark side. >> and jenny casilla's elf leaves a message and it read, "read a bedtime story to your baby sister." >> and we look forward to more of them next year. >> and it is a friday, and are you ready for the friday jokes? >> okay. let's do it. >> are where do snowmen go to dance? >> with where? >> a snowball. >> the kids from detroit are not even smiling. >> that is funny. >> all right. come on, you guys. >> okay. the next one. >> what do you get if santa goes down the chimney when the fire

is lit? crisp cringle. >> oh, no, fake laughing. >> and what christmas carol is a favorite of parents and little heavenly joy did it for us yesterday. >> silent night. >> that is kind of like gift fac face. >> it is. >> yes, what's the difference between the christmas alphabet and the ordinary alphabet and is sort of a trick one. >> what? >> the christmas alphabet has noel. get it? >> cut away. all right. >> knock, knock, hoda. >> who's there? wa wait, i say that, and you say that. i say that. you say that and i say that. >> knock, knock. >> who's there? >> murray. >> murray christmas one and all.

his name must be murray. >> thank you for applauding. >> and they get more lame every week. >> and your family will be coming over, and how to make your table so beautiful. >> and more stories after this. ♪ silver bells the beloved grilled cheese sandwich. no one can resist... it's seductive charms. it's just about the closest thing to hot, molten [guttural/purring sound]... [mooo] just doing my part! return to real food. dairy products made with california milk. from our family farms to your table. return to real. look for the seal.

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and this is coming from one of the "today" show viewers. kate in melbourne, florida, and she had been struggling with so many health issues that had kept her from getting anything but a part-time job at cracker barrel, but she was is the still finding it tough to pay her bills. it was impossible for her to be able to afford the fly to her son's wedding, but kate kept her faith. she prayed for a god wink. so take a look at this one. >> i love my job at cracker barrel. as a cashier, because i love talking to people. but on the eve my son was getting married, i was feeling so sad, and then two cheerful flight attendants angie and ruben from southwest airlines came up to pay their bill. i asked them what route they fly. they said back and forth to vegas. so i joked, hey, if you are heading there now, how about

strapping me into to a parachute and dropping me over phoenix, and i told them my sad story that i had to miss my son's wedding the next day. they told me how sorry they were, and paid the bill, and went on their way. five minutes later, angie and ruben returned wearing smiles. can you get tomorrow off, ruben wanted to know, we found a southwest buddy pass in our bag in the car. it is a complimentary standby ticket. i was dumb founded and i began to cry. all of the sudden, i heard, she sure can get tomorrow off. that is my co-worker katrina who volunteered to take my shift. angie got out the phone right there at the register, and booked the flight right there out of orlando and the next morning i showed up as a surprise for my son and my new

daught daughter-in-law h. it was a wonderful wedding, and definite definitely the best god wink i ever had. >> oh, so that is a good story. >> they are all good. >> oh, good. >> and listen, there is a follow-up to this story. >> tell us. >> because when kate got home from the wedding, an ji the flight attendant called to hear about the wedding, but also to offer kate a job as a nanny for her two children, and now with two part-time jobs, kate can pay her bills and put presents under the christmas tree. >> oh, thank you, christmas squi squire. >> things sometimes seem hopeless in this world sometimes, but not today. >> not today. >> and how to set a beautiful and functional table coming up. >> that is beautiful.

why do i cook for the holidays? to share with family to carry on traditions to come together, even when we're apart in stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and more, swanson® makes holiday dishes delicious! and we're gonna serve sunday businedinner off a counter wiped with jasmine sparkle? i got salmonella just thinking about it.

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serving the holiday meal. >> are you singing again? >> it is the same one. ♪ down at the five and ten >> if you open up the pages of kathie lee's book it is called "good gifts" and you can see that every table is set with design, and you can see that she did it with our very own decorator bianca borges. >> and you look so festive today. >> yes, it is the day. >> and setting the table is important, i've heard. i have heard the rumors. >> yes, it is. >> yeah, we worked beautifully together with andy when we did this book, and i tried to use everything that is awe then the tick to my home. and these are my beautiful lenox beautiful christmas plates and the cigsignature way that i alw do my napkins, and i like to do that and put it there, and it

adds a little height, but it disappear disappears when everybody sits dow down. >> and another thing, some tables are so cluttered that you don't know where to put anything. >> and you want to have enough space for food. one of the main things is that once you have picked the dinner plate, make extra plate and then divide the food into two and put it in both ends of the food. >> so it does not have to go all of the to way around the table. >> yes, and the mashed potatoes and passing hot gravy is not easy on a table this big. >> right. it will get cold. >> and because you are dividing it into two, you don't have to have such large plates. they can be smaller to serve. >> and appetizers?

>> you put the food on top, and people will see that and start gathering, and of course, pouring wine will do the same thing. >> and also, the centerpiece there. >> and you can see the small clusters of nflowers and kathie lee did that throughout the whole book. >> it is a burst, but you are not going to be eating the flowers, and set an ambiance, but not overtake the room. >> and you can still see the person across from you. but the center piece of food is very good with the nutcrackers and the clementines, because it gives people who need something to do who don't want dessert. >> check out good gift books.org and the proceeds go to help salvation army. we're only human.

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♪ ♪ sleigh bells r

we are back on this christmas day. we hope that the all of you at home are enjoying down time making memories with with family and friends today. >> meantime w wi, we are so thr to welcome in a group of kids who have per are from ages 9 to 13, and they have performed all of the way from here to the white house. >> and they will be joining felicia key with their rendition of fa leez navidad.

♪ ♪ feliz navidad feliz navidad ♪ ♪ feliz navidad prospero ano y felicidad ♪ ♪ feliz navidad feliz navidad ♪ ♪ feliz navidad prospero ano y felicidad ♪ ♪ i wanna wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ i wanna wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ i wanna wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ from the bottom of my heart ♪ feliz navidad feliz navidad ♪ ♪ feliz navidad prospero ano y felicidad ♪ ♪ feliz navidad

feliz navidad ♪ ♪ feliz navidad prospero ano y felicidad ♪ ♪ i wanna wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ i wanna wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ i wanna wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ from the bottom of my heart ♪ i wanna wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ i wanna wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ i wanna wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ from the bottom of my heart [ applause ] we have got another holiday performance for you. >> from the grammy-winning band train. >> and they go wild for christmas. >> yes sh, they do. we will have some amazing animals right after this. so i liked when my doctor told me i may reach my blood sugar and a1c goals by activating what's within me.

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bringing you the one thing that we do every year. >> we invite animals to open presents. >> we have never done it before, but here to help us is julie scardina from busch gardens and animals. >> i have brought you a beautiful surprise to start it off. oh, come over here. look at that. the bird of prey, but it is basically a predator, and the largest species of owl in the world. how much does it look like she weighs? >> ten pounds. >> not that far off, and she is about 6 pounds. she is mostly faeather, and bones, so she looks a lot heavier. >> is she going to open up a present or no? >> well, she is going to fly in so we can bring in our next

animal. >> and the packages, when are they coming? >> the otter. where is the otter? >> they know how the open up the packages. >> yes sh, yes, there they are. >> oh, my gosh! >> there must be food in there. >> there are lots of treats. >> they are never coming out. >> and which presents have treats and which ones don't. they keep going all around. >> oh, oh! >> these two were orphan ed in the wild, and because they were raised by someone who thought they could be, they got to be 6 months old, they said that otters are like on steroids, so they actually turned them in and said that we can't care for them anymore. >> good-bye, good-bye. stay right in there, baby. >> and there goes another one. >> there are more presents. >> over here. >> right over here.

>> yes, he going to be getting a all of the treats. >> and you know, in a weird way, you could watch that for hours. >> yes. >> what is next? >> christmas is about porcupines, right? >> oh, yes. >> and these are all about the food. this is a baby african crusted porcupi porcupine. you want to hold this? >> i am not sure. >> and this is one of his favorite treats, and so right now, they get pretty big. this is only 3 months old. and you will see in a minute, but it isst rodent. they are punting waare pung che

when they are born with their eyes open. and look at this. >> what is that? >> oh, they are so beautiful. >> the macaws. >> they don't even look real they are so beautiful. we have to say good-bye, but merry christmas to everybody. >> look at the treat inside. >> they look in with their little eyeballs. >> julie, merry christmas. >> whoa! >> everybody okay? >> okay. and a happy new year. >> okay. when we come back, we will have music from the grammy award-winning band train. your body was made for better things than rheumatoid arthritis. before you and your rheumatologist move to a biologic, ask if xeljanz is right for you.

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today is proudly presented to you by citi. >> we will keep the christmas day right on track with a little festive music from the grammy award winning band train. >> this is ais off of their fir christmas album. this is train. ♪ there's a story that i was told ♪ ♪ and i want to tell the world before i get too old ♪ ♪ and i don't remember it ♪ so december it ♪ and reassemble it ♪ once upon a time in a town like this ♪ ♪ a little girl like this made a great big wish ♪ ♪ to fill the world full of happiness ♪ ♪ and be on santa's magic list ♪ shake up shake up for happiness ♪ ♪ shake it up shake it up

♪ wake up to happiness ♪ come on come on ♪ it's christmastime ♪ shake it up ♪ shake up happiness ♪ wake up, wake up ♪ to happiness ♪ come on y'all ♪ it is christmastime ♪ and million miles away ♪ a little boy made a wish that the world would be okay ♪ ♪ and santa claus was here to stay ♪ ♪ i got dreams and i got love ♪ i got my feet on the ground and family above ♪ ♪ and won't you give them happiness and the best to the people of the east and the west ♪ ♪ and maybe every once in a while ♪ ♪ you give my grandma a reason to smile ♪ ♪ 'tis the season to smile ♪ and though we will be freezing inside ♪ ♪ and let me meet a girl one day ♪ ♪ who wants to spread some love this way ♪

♪ and we can let our souls run free ♪ ♪ and she can open some happiness with me ♪ ♪ shake it up ♪ shake up the happiness ♪ waking up ♪ wake up to happiness ♪ come on come on ♪ it's christmastime ♪ shake it up ♪ shake it up to happiness ♪ wake up wake up ♪ to happiness ♪ come on y'all ♪ it is happiness ♪ i know you're out there ♪ i hear your reindeer ♪ i see the snow where your boots have been ♪ ♪ i'm going to surely ♪ know that someday they will know that their love will glow ♪ ♪ and make believe again ♪ waking up to happiness ♪ come on y'all ♪ it's christmastime

♪ shake it up ♪ shake up to happiness ♪ wake it up ♪ wake up to happiness ♪ come on y'all ♪ it's christmastime ♪ na na na-na-na ♪ yeah yeah yeah we have something special to share. >> but first, this is "today" on nbc. ♪ puffs knows winter...

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next week, two of our favorite ladies bernadette peters and jane krakawski will be joining us. >> and we will have more music. >> and everything that you need to know about the new year from what to serve and the hottest

trends. >> and before we go, we want to look back at all of the great mome moments this year. >> and all of the people who have worked so hard to make it happen. >> thank you all very much, and have a very merry, christmas, everyone. >> yes. ♪ today today it's christmas ♪ if you like living living like everyday is ♪ ♪ today today today today is christmas and we've been living like living like everyday is ♪ ♪ i'd like to take the holidays to make it good and jingle jingle ♪ ♪ and we don't need to need a lot to feel ♪ ♪ jingle jingle ♪ it always takes a little spark to ignite and you will go ♪ ♪ jingle jingle

♪ grab the one you love and hold on to them tight and go ♪ ♪ jingle, jingle ♪ today today today is christmas ♪ ♪ oh, we like living like living like everyday is ♪ ♪ today today today ♪ today today is christmas ♪ if we are living like living like living like everyday is ♪ ♪ down in your pocket you got something to give ♪ ♪ it goes ♪ jingle jingle ♪ and down in your heart make some room to give and go ♪ ♪ jingle jingle ♪ and we have heard that the wins will wave when you go

jingle jingle ♪ ♪ today today today is christmas ♪ ♪ we'll be living like living like living like everyday is ♪ >> merry christmas. >> go, hoda. >> show us what you got now. ♪ today today today ♪ today is christmas ♪ oh if the we like living like living like living like every day is ♪ ♪ so let's live it like living like everyday is ♪ >> ooh!

♪ from now on ♪ there's no looking back ♪ only full steam ahead ♪ on this one-way track ♪ and from this day forward ♪ly make a promise to be true to myself and always be honest ♪ ♪ for the rest of my life ♪ly do what's right ♪ i will do what's right ♪ when i step out on the ledge ♪ for the rest of our lives ♪ i'm on top of the world ♪ and touch tonight and tonight and touch the sky tonight ♪ ♪ and for the rest of our lives ♪ ♪ we will be on top of the world ♪ ♪ hey hey ♪ the rest of our lives ♪ and we are touching the sky ♪ and we are out on the verge of the rest of our lives ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ come along this winter night huddle round the old lamplight ♪