ollection reminds us that while our heritage may be diverse, we can all enjoy the spirit of the christmas season through the joy of music. however you celebrate christmas, it's a time rich in tradition, wondrous for children, and for families to come together. these three gifts -- the show dvd, the book, and the music cd -- promise to become a part of your future holiday celebrations. this is a team effort. it's the station staff, so many phone volunteers, business supporters, and most importantly, you. together we're all making a difference. please, support the team in your community that's so committed to the value of public television. take a couple minutes, it's fun. please, give us a phone call right now. rick, i know how truly committed you are to making travel accessible through public television. well, since i was a kid teaching travel, i've taught travel everywhere i can. i wanted travel to be both accessible and meaningful.

i know that many people can't actually travel for physical or financial reasons, or they're busy at home with children or whatever, but they love to travel through public television. for all of us, especially for those people who can't travel, public television truly is the next best thing to a plane ticket. this station truly does bring the whole world right into our living rooms. and it happens each and every day because someone just like you picked up their phone and made a contribution. join with them, won't you, and keep this station thriving. call the number on your screen and say, "count me in." whether your gift is a basic member amount or a bit higher to receive one of rick's wonderful gifts, you'll be part of the pbs family. in filming this special, i enjoyed celebrating christmas with so many families in so many different cultures. in looking at how those parents loved each of those children, i was reminded that regardless of our politics or language, how we worship or who brings us our gifts on christmas, this world is home to billions

of equally precious children of god. public tv helps us to celebrate the diversity on our planet in a way that's also a celebration of oneness. pbs enriches our lives just as travel does, and that's worth a lot. in just a few minutes, we'll be in italy: midnight mass with the pope, bonfires in tuscan villages, and of course, tossing christmas fruitcakes. before we toss those fruitcakes, there is still time for you to call and do your part. here's a perfect opportunity for you to both give and receive this christmas season. for your gift at the top level, you'll receive every gift we've mentioned today, including rick's dvd set with more than 45 hours of great travel programming. check this out. the rick steves' europe anthology is the definitive video library of european travel. eighty episodes take you from the fjords of norway to the heart of iran, from the wild coast of ireland

to the charms of the czech republic. you'll discover hidden alpine villages, explore modern cities layered with history, and relax in my favorite mediterranean hideaway. and there are bonuses you'll never see on tv. there's the practical"europe through the back door"lecture i've been giving for three decades, a fast-forward look at my children growing up on the road, and outtakes, proof that things don't always go as smoothly as it seems. [ speaks in italian ] didn't understand a word he said. for any traveler or europhile, these 80 episodes, with nearly 50 hours of video, offer a lifetime of travel learning, lessons, and fun. so, rick, tell us a little bit about how this special was all put together. it must have been quite a scramble. well, we shot it all in the 14 days leading up to christmas. we had two crews of four people each. we're normally just three: me, simon the producer, and the cameraman.

but for the first time, we had sound men along, because the quality of the music was just vital for both the show and for the cd. we spent about four days in each culture. you'll notice it feels like we celebrate christmas eve seven times over the course of the program, but we were actually only in two places on december 24th and 25th, rome and salzburg. my family flew over to join us in switzerland. that's coming up in the next segment. i couldn't imagine doing a christmas show without including my family. we had one big prayer for the whole shoot, and that was to get some snow. it was unseasonably warm in most places that winter, but we got our white christmas, just barely, in switzerland. i think it would be so much fun to watch you and your crew work. i wish i could. well, you can. we've got an episode called "the making of." it's a half-hour look at how we make our regular tv show. we filmed it in milan, and it's included as one of the shows in the dvd anthology. also, at our ricksteves.com web site, we have a special corner with information supporting this christmas special. you'll find the entire script,

an article detailing how the show was produced, and even interviews with friends in other european countries sharing their christmas traditions. these were originally produced for our weekly hour that's been airing on public radio stations across the united states now, which is in its fourth year. this is a great time to get on board with pbs. now here's a quick review of the gifts that will help make supporting your station right now a great idea for this holiday season. let's quickly review today's top thank-you package. support your public television station with a contribution of $200, and we'll thank you with all the gifts we've been talking about today. you'll receive the book, the dvd, the cd, the map, and our exciting boxed set of dvds. this 80-episode, 13-disc anthology brings you the entire rick steves' europe library, 45 hours of travel fun, including every program we've ever produced. today we're celebrating the public in public television, and the choice is yours:

$80 for my european christmas book, dvd, and cd, or $200 for absolutely everything: those three gifts, plus the map and my exciting dvd boxed set anthology. thank you. all right, rick, i'm ready for more christmas. what comes up next? well, we've saved our most exciting stops for last. christmas in italy, including a peek at the final christmas mass pope john paul ii would celebrate, and a snowy festival of holiday fun high in the swiss alps with my family. then all over europe we'll see the bells ring, children opening their presents, and the climax of the holiday season as europe celebrates the arrival of christmas. and as you enjoy this next segment of our christmas in europe special, think about the value of public television in bringing the wonders of our beautiful world right into your living room, and then become a part of the community that supports great public television programming. if you have yet to join this station, please consider doing so right now.

for those of you who have joined us, thanks so much for your generous support. christmas eve is almost here, and your magic pbs holiday sleigh is taking you to italy. and as they say there, avanti! let's go. this is the home of the vatican city, headquarters of the roman catholic church and some of europe's most sacred christmas traditions. for centuries, pilgrims have hiked from all over christendom to this great city. domes and ancient obelisks still serve as markers, lacing together relics and sacred stops... including the tomb of st. peter, marked by the greatest dome anywhere. and through the ages, pilgrims have stopped here at the basilica of santa maria maggiore. the faithful believe the original planks

from jesus's crib are in this ornate container. and here in the capital of catholicism, each christmas, lovingly constructed manger scenes, called "presepi," pop up all over town. st. francis of assisi is credited with assembling the first manger scene in 1223. he used it as a tool to teach people the story of the first christmas. since then, in the creative teaching style of st. francis, manger scenes often put bethlehem in a local context. instead of the middle east, italians have long set the holy family right here in italian settings. st. francis knew that by putting jesus in a place people would recognize -- their own neighborhood -- the faithful could relate more easily to the story of his birth. and presepi range from the very traditional to the very surprising,

like this one that imagines the nativity in an eskimo village. the ultimate manger scene is back on rome's ultimate square. st. peter's is where the pope celebrates midnight mass each christmas eve. for roman families there's more than just manger scenes to see. for centuries this lively square, piazza navona, has hosted a boisterous village-like holiday market that stays busy until epiphany in january. the christmas season in europe stretches for well over a month, not to maximize shopping days, but to fit in the season's many holy days. advent starts four sundays before christmas eve. then comes the feast of st. nicholas on december 6th. santa lucia day is on the 13th, and europeans don't wrap things up on the 25th. the 12 days of christmas stretch from the 25th

through january 6th. that's epiphany: the day the three kings finally delivered the gifts. in italy on epiphany, la befana, a popular christmas witch, flies over the rooftops filling children's stocking with candy...or coal. between visiting their manger scenes and christmas witches, many italians are shopping for their big christmas eve dinner. [ shouts in italian ] when it comes to a festa, italians like to buy fresh and local, and lucky romans enjoy an abundance of farmers markets. la vigilia, the traditional christmas eve dinner, calls for all the trimmings. here in rome, that's lots of veggies and a nice big female eel! as anywhere, christmas in rome is a time of giving. the spirit of charity is especially alive in this neighborhood, which has come together for a special holiday meal. at the church of santa maria in trastevere,

tables have replaced pews and the poor are enjoying a feast prepared and served by the community. it's a joyful occasion, and by all accounts those doing the giving feel as blessed as those they feed. outside of rome, in villages in regions such as tuscany, christmas celebrations are a little more rustic. the festivities, while low-key, are memorable. during a busy season that sometimes feels overwhelming, village life can be refreshingly simple. these jovial friends are playing an old game. the idea is to toss the panforte, the local fruitcake, close to the edge of the table without having it slide off.

[ all talking in italian ] [ all exclaim ] [ woman calls to child ] si. these children are flip-flopping the gift-giving tradition. woman: graze! boy: buon natale. they're delivering another christmas treat, panettone, a rich brioche made with raisins and citrus, to older folks who have no family nearby. [ women speaking italian ] while providing a bright spot in this grandma's day, the child experiences the joy of giving. and today the children have another important errand. it's time to post their letters to babbo natale,

the italian version of santa claus. this special mailbox mysteriously appears each christmas. [ men singing gregorian chant ] sacred music and prayer infuse this tranquil landscape. here at the 15th-century abbey of monte oliveto maggiore, reclusive monks celebrate their faith in a timeless fashion as if one with the communities they serve. [ chanting continues ] ♪ ...christum dominum...

and in this town, the people are doing a dress rehearsal for a presepio vivente or living nativity. on christmas eve in this simple cloister they'll recreate the town of bethlehem on that holiest of nights. monks: ♪ amen in the countryside, you appreciate how sacred traditions have deep roots. here in this medieval tuscan hill town, villagers stack neat pyramids of wood for great bonfires. the lighting of the fires is a signal to villagers, dressed as shepherds, to come and sing old carols. [ all singing in italian ] it's a reminder that through the ages italy's humble shepherds entertained the faithful as they gathered by fires to warm themselves

and await the arrival of christmas. [ singing continues ] [ applause ] while italy has the rich history, magnificent manger scenes, and grand churches, the spirit of christmas can be experienced everywhere in europe. high in switzerland, where the churches are small and villages huddle below towering peaks, the mighty alps seem to shout the glory of god. up here, christmas fills a wintry wonderland with good cheer. [ bells clanging ]

in these villages, traditions are strong, [ clanging continues ] and warmth is a priority. ovens are small so wood is, too. my family has arrived for a swiss alps christmas. along with our kids, andy and jackie, my wife, anne, has joined me here in the tiny village of gimmelwald where we're having some fun with our friends olle and maria and their kids. [ shriek and laughter ] yahoo! hoo! hoo-hoo! whoo! olle is taking us high above his village on a quest to find and cut the perfect christmas tree.

[ olle speaks indistinct ] well, what do you think about this tree here? i'm not sure... well, let's shake it. let's go. no, it's...papa, look at this. yeah, olle, i think we can do better. [ laughter ] yeah, this is much prettier. what do you think? yeah, this is a good tree. i think we should cut it. [ various people exclaiming ] [ indistinct talking and laughter ]

still high above gimmelwald, we're stopping in a hut for a little fondue. woman: we've got the tree. girl: yes! olle: that was quite a bit of work. rick: mmm. this feels just right in the winter, doesn't it. maria: when it's cold outside, it's perfect. [ speaks swiss-german ] means, um... [ speaks swiss-german ] and it means in english "fondue is delicious and gives a good mood." so if you have a party, it's going to be -- yes, everybody knows what [ speaks swiss-german ] means. if there's fondue, it'll be a good ambience. yes. [ all laugh ] it's impossible not to linger in this cozy setting. before we know it, the light outside begins to fade. here's to a happy christmas. cheers! [ all laugh ] as the sun sets, we've got our tree

and take an unforgettable ride home to gimmelwald. [ background instrumental music: "ave maria" ] [ laughing, shrieking ] back in the village, the kids take the tree home, and we've been invited to enjoy another christmas tradition. while i grew up opening windows on a paper advent calendar, up here the windows are real. twenty-five homes decorate a window for each day of advent.

the sense of anticipation is the same as, day by day, christmas approaches. [ bells jingling, sheep bleating ] advent is all about anticipation. and for the kids, much of that anticipation is about presents: rewards for being not naughty, but nice. and as we've seen, throughout europe each culture seems to have its own version of santa claus, who serves parents by providing children incentives for good behavior. here in the alps, it's samichlaus. that's swiss-german for st. nicolas -- and his sidekick, schmutzli. my son, andy, is playing samichlaus this year. olle's son, sven, is playing schmutzli. and the donkey is playing himself. each year, gimmelwald's children anticipate a visit from this dynamic christmas duo. samichlaus surprises the children and checks in his ledger to see if they've been doing their chores. have you been feeding the cows lately?

[ speaks swiss-german ] then he might ask for song or a poem, what would you like to sing? [ sings in swiss-german ] and the performance is always followed by a treat from his big bag of gifts. i hope you have a merry christmas. [ speaks swiss-german ] see you next year. bye. [ everybody laughing ] mission accomplished, and it's time for dinner. back home, grandma and grandpa have joined the gang as we settle into a classic swiss christmas eve. for this family, the holiday feast includes ham, scalloped potatoes with mountain cheese, and lovingly decorated gingerbread cookies. after dinner, both our families gather in the living room. lighting the candles is a treat our children will always remember.

[ man reading in german ] three generations come together as grandpa reads from the old family bible. [ continues reading in german ] [ singing in german ] and we all love a little caroling. [ singing continues ]

[ song ends ] the evening's capped off with the sharing of gifts. [ exclamations, appreciative comments ] christmas eve is finally here, and right about now, all across europe, our friends are celebrating this long-anticipated night in their own unique ways. down the chimney st. nicholas came with a bound... in england, the family snuggles together, anticipating the arrival of father christmas. [ crowd singing carol ]

up in norway, they're joining hands in song. [ speaking french ] in burgundy, a toast starts the réveillon. and delphine's beef is finally done. [ exclamations and applause ] [ bell jingling ] in austria, the children discover what their grandparents have been hiding from them. final touches are made to the bethlehem being created in tuscany. [ bell pealing ] and at the vatican, people pack st. peter's, as millions around the world share a sacred and glorious midnight mass. choir: ♪ hark, how the bells, sweet silver bells ♪ ♪ all seem to say throw cares away ♪ ♪ christmas is here bringing good cheer ♪ ♪ to young and old, meek and the bold ♪ ♪ ding, dong, ding, dong, that is the song ♪ ♪ with joyful ring, all caroling ♪ ♪ one seems to hear words of good cheer ♪ ♪ from everywhere filling the air ♪ ♪ oh, how they pound, raising the sound ♪

♪ o'er hill and dale, telling their tale ♪ ♪ gaily they ring, while people sing ♪ ♪ songs of good cheer, christmas is here ♪ ♪ merry, merry, merry, merry christmas ♪ ♪ merry, merry, merry, merry christmas ♪ ♪ christmas is here bringing good cheer ♪ ♪ to young and old, meek and the bold ♪ ♪ ding, dong, ding, dong, that is the song ♪ ♪ with joyful ring, all caroling ♪ ♪ one seems to hear words of good cheer ♪ ♪ from everywhere filling the air ♪ ♪ oh, how they pound, raising the sound ♪ ♪ o'er hill and dale, telling their tale ♪ ♪ gaily they ring, while people sing ♪ ♪ songs of good cheer, christmas is here ♪ ♪ merry, merry, merry, merry christmas ♪ ♪ merry, merry, merry, merry christmas ♪ ♪ on, on they send on without end ♪ ♪ their joyful tone to every home ♪ ♪ ahhh ♪ on, on they send on without end ♪ ♪ ahhh ♪ their joyful tone to every home ♪ and as christmas day dawns, a joyful chorus heralds the birth of jesus.

[ loud chorus of bells pealing ] [ bells fade away ] happy christmas! joyeux noel! schone weihnachten! buon natale...! god jul! merry christmas. frohe weinachten! joyeux noel! happy christmas! ho, ho, ho, frohe weihnachten! buon natale! all: god yul! [ bell clanging ] oyez! oyez! i wish you all a very merry christmas! from our family to yours, peace on earth and goodwill to all!

merry christmas! merry christmas! and we have been enjoying a christmas extravaganza. i love the way each region of europe is still so unique and distinct. think of all we've seen and where we've been in the last hour or so. and don't go away, because my crew and i have put together a special musical dessert to top off this holiday feast. but first we'd like to ask you to become a supporting member of this wonderful public television station. do that by calling the number on your screen and making a contribution. we are your public television station. we're part of this community, and we rely on our community to keep all the programs coming. your gift keeps this station strong, so grab your credit card and make your call right now. rick, "the mighty alps seem to shout the glory of god." i love that image. oh, i do, too. that line comes from "high in switzerland, "where the churches are small and the village is huddled "below the towering peaks,

the mighty alps seem to shout the glory of god." you really feel that when you're up in the alps. oh, you really do, and it was lovely to see your family. well, a christmas show just wouldn't be right without family; that was clear. we were scrambling: two crews in seven cultures in 14 days. anne and the kids flew in just for the swiss alps part. andy had a blast playing the local samichlaus. with that big bag of goodies, he was popular with those village kids. in the last hour or so, we've traveled to seven cultures, visited families to share in their intimate rituals and celebrations, and learned so much about a holiday that we've grown up with. this is a classic example of the value of travel and the value of public television. and in a few minutes we'll enjoy a special bonus. we'll see five of our favorite musical performances and another look at that glorious midnight mass with the pope at st. peter's. but first, right now, take a moment to do something really exciting, to make a difference, to become a supporting member of this great public television station.

give yourself and this station a christmas gift. become a member right now, or maybe give a gift membership to a loved one, and every time you tune in, you'll enjoy watching this station even more. a gift membership, what a great idea for the upcoming holidays. your support means a lot to this station, so make that important call right now. steves: to encourage your support of this station, we have some exciting ways to show our gratitude. contribute $80, and we'll thank you with three gifts: our european christmas book, the program dvd, and a cd of european carols. the book is filled with vivid photographs and tells the story of christmas in europe. the dvd includes the program we're enjoying right now with lots of fun and musical extras. and the cd is a collection of our favorite 20 carols chosen from the many we filmed. make a gift of $200, and we'll thank you with those gifts plus our exciting boxed set of dvds. this 80-episode, 13-disc anthology

brings you the entire rick steves' europe library, 45 hours of travel fun, including every show we've produced, plus special programs, lectures, and a bonus disc giving you a virtual seat on one of our european bus tours. we'll also include the european planning map i designed locating all my favorite hard-to-find discoveries. and at both amounts, you'll also receive dancing with europa, my personal journal from recent travels, and a special 64-page edition of our travel newsletter, featuring my favorite european travel destinations for the coming year. together, we support public television. make your call and make your choice: $80 for the christmas book, dvd, and cd, or $200 for everything: those three gifts, the map, and that 80-episode dvd anthology. and thanks for supporting your public television station. this is a team effort, and together we're all making a difference. right now, all over the country, people who understand the value of noncommercial media

are coming together to make their station strong. this is a community celebration of the value of public television, and we'd like you on the team. take a couple minutes, it's fun. please, give us a phone call right now. public television shares your values: rich culture, fine art, informative news, and programs like rick's that help us enjoy and better understand our beautiful and sometimes complicated world. your support makes us all partners in this exciting work. think of your membership in this public television station as an important investment in your community. mass media has a huge impact on the values of our society. if you want an alternative to advertiser-shaped media, this station is where it's at. i'm here today because i'm personally committed to the notion that public broadcasting has never been more important for our society. considering the complexity of the challenges confronting our nation today, it's critical that we keep our society informed. no place on the dial respects the intelligence of its viewers

like this station. simply put, this station is a treasure. i appreciate public broadcasting as a producer, as a teacher, and as tour guide, and i appreciate it as a viewer. i can promise you this, my shows would never see the light of day anywhere else on the dial. the special you're watching celebrates a noncommercial christmas. it was real people and real culture on public noncommercial television. it's not happy holidays and the joy of shopping; it's real culture. that's rare these days, and it's possible only with your support. please, help support this station right now with a call. thank you. at both levels today, you'll receive rick's trio of show-related christmas gifts: the book, the dvd, and the cd. and these can enrich your family christmas celebrations for years to come. christmas has deep cultural roots. today we're offering three gifts to invigorate your holiday season

with traditions from across europe: the show dvd with lots of extras, a book tracing the story of christmas, and a cd of wonderful carols. the rick steves' christmas dvd includes the special you're watching today, plus 90 minutes of extras: more of john paul ii's inspiring last christmas mass, full-length choral performances, a slideshow capturing the joy of the season, and an interview with germany's christkind. frohliche weihnachten. the european christmas book explores the rich traditional roots, both christian and pagan, that shaped the christmas festivities we enjoy today here at home. it contains more information on the history of this special season than we were able to include in the tv program. each chapter uncovers the fascinating story behind the many traditions so familiar to americans. there's a chapter telling how we actually produced the show, and there are recipes for every festive meal we enjoyed. this beautiful book takes you vividly over to europe for christmas, and it will for years to come.

[ singing ] and the rick steves' european christmas cd complements the book and the dvd with a fresh collection of carols sung on location in the seven countries we visited. performances range from inside a rustic stone church in oslo to one of england's best choirs in downtown london. this collection reminds us that while our heritage may be diverse, we can all enjoy the spirit of the christmas season through the joy of music. however you celebrate christmas, it's a time rich in tradition, wondrous for children, and for families to come together. these three gifts -- the show dvd, the book, and the music cd -- promise to become a part of your future holiday celebrations. the reason this station is able to bring you the great variety of programs like rick steves' european christmas or the world of other shows you enjoy here

is because of viewer support. membership in this station makes the programming you expect to find here possible. learning is a lifelong journey; it's filled with exciting events. whether it's travels with rick steves or the newshour, antiques roadshow, or masterpiece theatre, you and your family will never stop learning or being entertained with public television, and your support keeps these great programs coming. so grab your credit card and grab your phone and make your call right now. show your appreciation for quality programming by becoming a member so that we can continue this special adventure together. by calling the number on your screen, you stand up for quality, diversity, and individual enrichment. your support is critical to this station's existence. only through your support can it continue to provide great programming. it's as simple as that. go to your phones and give us a call right now. take that important step toward becoming a member and keeping your station strong. i must say, i'm thrilled that everyone pledging at the top level

will receive all the gifts we're talking about today, including the entire library of our shows in that boxed dvd set. the rick steves' europe anthology is the definitive video library of european travel. eighty episodes take you from the fjords of norway to the heart of iran, from the wild coast of ireland to the charms of the czech republic. you'll discover hidden alpine villages, explore modern cities layered with history, and relax in my favorite mediterranean hideaway. and there are bonuses you'll never see on tv. there's the practical"europe through the back door"lecture i've been giving for three decades, a fast-forward look at my children growing up on the road, and outtakes, proof that things don't always go as smoothly as it seems. [ speaks in italian ] didn't understand a word he said. for any traveler or europhile, these 80 episodes, with nearly 50 hours of video, offer a lifetime of travel learning, lessons, and fun.

again, call the number on your screen and find out about the great thank-you gifts we have available for you: those three christmas gifts, and for the higher level, you get the dvd library of all rick's shows and the three christmas gifts. in our actual christmas program, we could only show bits of performances, but up next, we can add a few performances in their entirety. in this final segment, we've assembled a few of our favorites, a fun little musical montage taking us across europe and through the centuries. you'll hear a 14th-century german carol sung in st. james, a christopher wren-designed church in london; a burgundian choral group in medieval costumes singing a catalan carol in the 13th-century cistercian abbey in france; the norwegian national girls choir singing by candlelight in oslo's oldest church; a london group sharing its passion for 15th-century english renaissance harmony;

and on a brittle cold night in nuremberg, a choir fills its church with the musical warmth of an early german baroque carol. that all sounds great, but we'll also return to the vatican for more of pope john paul ii's final christmas mass as the grandest church in christendom is packed with worshippers at midnight on christmas eve. this musical sleigh ride has pbs license plates and it starts in london. ♪ [ singing in german and latin ] ♪ in dulci jubilo ♪ ♪ nun singet und seid froh ♪ ♪ unsers herzen wonne ♪ leit in praesepio ♪ ♪ und leuchtet als die sonne ♪ ♪ matris in gremio ♪

♪ alpha es et o ♪ ♪ alpha es et o ♪ ♪ ubi sunt gaudia ♪ ♪ nirgends mehr genn da ♪ da die engel singen ♪ nova cantica ♪ ♪ und die schellen klingen ♪ in regis curia ♪ ♪ eia warn wir da ♪ eia warn wir d-a-a

[ applause ] [ singing in french ] ♪ en ce jour ineffable...

[ singing in latin ] ♪ da pacem, domine ♪ ♪ da pacem, domine ♪ ♪ in diebus nostris ♪ ♪ da pacem, domine ♪ ♪ da pacem, domine ♪ ♪ in diebus nostris ♪ ♪ da pacem, domine ♪ ♪ da pacem, domine ♪

♪ in diebus nostris ♪ ♪ da pacem, domine ♪ ♪ da pacem, domine ♪ ♪ in diebus nostris ♪ ♪ da pacem, domine ♪ ♪ da pacem, domine ♪ ♪ in deibus nostris ♪ [ tambourine beats ] ♪ noel, noel, noel ♪ this is the salutation of the angel gabriel ♪

♪ tidings true there be come new ♪ ♪ sent from the trinity ♪ by gabriel to nazareth, city of galilee ♪ ♪ a clean maiden, a pure virgin ♪ ♪ through her humility hath conceiveth the person ♪ ♪ second in deity ♪ noel, noel, noel ♪ this is the salutation of the angel gabriel ♪ ♪ when he first presented was before her fair visage ♪ ♪ in the most demure and goodly wise ♪ ♪ he did to her homage ♪ and said, lady, from heaven so high ♪ ♪ that lord's heritage ♪ for which of thee born will be, ♪ ♪ i am sent on message ♪ noel, noel, noel ♪ this is the salutation of the angel gabriel ♪

♪ hail, virgin celestial, the meek'st that ever was ♪ ♪ hail, temple of deity ♪ ♪ hail, mirror of all grace ♪ ♪ hail, virgin pure i thee ensure ♪ ♪ within a little space ♪ thou shalt receive, and him conceive ♪ ♪ that shall bring great solace ♪ ♪ noel, noel, noel ♪ this is the salutation of the angel gabriel ♪ ♪ then again to the angel she answered womanly ♪ ♪ whate'er my lord command me do ♪ ♪ i will obey meekly ♪ ecce sum humillima ancilla domini ♪ ♪ secundum verbumtuum, shesaid, fiatmihi ♪ ♪ noel, noel, noel ♪ this is the salutation of the angel gabriel ♪ ♪ joy to the world ♪ my lord is come

♪ let earth receive her king ♪ ♪ let every heart ♪ prepare him room ♪ and heaven and nature sing ♪ ♪ and heaven and nature sing ♪ ♪ and heaven and heaven ♪ and nature sing ♪ he rules the world ♪ with truth and grace ♪ and makes the nations prove ♪ ♪ the glories of his righteousness ♪ ♪ and wonders of his love ♪ ♪ and wonders of his love ♪ ♪ and wonders of his love ♪ ♪ and wonders, and wonders of his lo-o-ve ♪

[ choir singing ] [ pope gives benediction in latin ]

[ choir singing ] [ pope continues benediction ] [ bell rings three times ] [ choir singing "adeste fidelis" ] ♪ venite adoremus

♪ venite adoremus ♪ dominum [ pope continues benediction ] all: amen. [ choir singing ]

[ song ends ] rick, i don't know how you're ever going to top this one. it was a great christmas, and i've got to say, one of my favorite travel experiences and one of my favorite tv production experiences ever. well, i enjoyed every single minute of it, i really did. and if you did as well, this is your final boarding call, your last chance to get on board during this show and call in your contribution for your public television station. if you've enjoyed this european christmas, there's one great way to show your appreciation, and that's to get up off your good intentions and get on over to that phone and make that call. steves: christmas has deep cultural roots.

today we're offering three gifts to invigorate your holiday season with traditions from across europe: the show dvd with lots of extras, a book tracing the story of christmas, and a cd of wonderful carols. the rick steves' christmas dvd includes the special you're watching today, plus 90 minutes of extras: more of john paul ii's inspiring last christmas mass, full-length choral performances, a slideshow capturing the joy of the season, and an interview with germany's christkind. frohliche weihnachten. the european christmas book explores the rich traditional roots, both christian and pagan, that shaped the christmas festivities we enjoy today here at home. it contains more information on the history of this special season than we were able to include in the tv program. each chapter uncovers the fascinating story behind the many traditions so familiar to americans. there's a chapter telling how we actually produced the show, and there are recipes for every festive meal we enjoyed.

this beautiful book takes you vividly over to europe for christmas, and it will for years to come. [ singing ] and the rick steves' european christmas cd complements the book and the dvd with a fresh collection of carols sung on location in the seven countries we visited. performances range from inside a rustic stone church in oslo to one of england's best choirs in downtown london. this collection reminds us that while our heritage may be diverse, we can all enjoy the spirit of the christmas season through the joy of music. however you celebrate christmas, it's a time rich in tradition, wondrous for children, and for families to come together. these three gifts -- the show dvd, the book, and the music cd -- promise to become a part of your future holiday celebrations. the christmas book is one of my favorite gifts. i love all of the photos in it,

and i also love that you explain santa's family tree. well, it is fascinating how santa's ancestors morphed into the jolly gift-giver so beloved today. basically, there are two sides to the claus family tree, the pagan father christmas side and a christian st. nicholas side. on the pagan side, odin, father of the viking gods, looked like santa. he even had a magic horse and he did the "naughty or nice" thing, you know, giving kids gifts in the dead of winter. the christian side of santa's family tree goes back to st. nick, who was a third-century monk in turkey. he became a bishop famous as a kindly protector of children and ended up the most popular saint in medieval europe. december 6 is the feast day of st. nicholas, and it's long been the happy day of gift giving. well, that's a little confusing if you just have to hear it for the first time, but it's all in the book with the very artistic family tree of santa claus himself. and here's now one last review of the thank-you gifts that folks can enjoy for years to come.

let's quickly review today's top thank-you package. support your public television station with a contribution of $200, and we'll thank you with all the gifts we've been talking about today. you'll receive the book, the dvd, the cd, the map, and our exciting boxed set of dvds. this 80-episode, 13-disc anthology brings you the entire rick steves' europe library, 45 hours of travel fun, including every program we've ever produced. today we're celebrating the public in public television, and the choice is yours: $80 for my european christmas book, dvd, and cd, or $200 for absolutely everything: those three gifts, plus the map and my exciting dvd boxed set anthology. thank you. well, this has been so exciting, traveling together and enjoying the many beautiful ways to celebrate christmas. thank you, rick. thanks for bringing us this terrific experience.

it's been my pleasure, and it's happened today because of your support. you still have time to help keep programming like this coming your way right here on this fine station. public television brings you the wonders of our beautiful world because you cared enough to help support it. when i think of how public television brings the world to me and me to the world, it's clear that this is a precious national resource. rather than fear diversity, public television helps us to celebrate it. this is a service well worth supporting. the benefits of this great station to our families, communities, and nation are real, and each and every call of support helps make it possible. if you called in, you and i truly are travel partners, and i thank you for making these shows possible. and from all of us here in public broadcasting, happy travels. frohliche weihnachten. god jul. joyeux noel. buon natale. merry christmas. merry christmas.

through programs like this, made available for everyone through contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you.

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