>> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb live from hstudio 1a in rockefeller plaza. yes! it t is winesday wednesdae, dece er 23rd, and justaswo more days until christmas. >> i can't believe it. two mo ready and we'll say no man

we have a great love story to tell you about. >> and every of people come to the plaza, but one couple in particular who we have singled out happened to have a chance meet ing ing outside, and it turned to love, and we m and just great. and if he holiday stress is zapping your energy, we have ha you goies continues all wk with straight no chaser a capella news will perform. >> we have great news. >> well, i do, tole and i the think that mine is bet ter, but maybe not. and thanks to all of you, we hit the donation mark for good gift,

been sold to bring a total of $1,070,000. and so all of that money is going to the salvation army and for all of those people ringing the kettles, and it is to m e christmas possible for those who wouldn't have otherwise. and it is a blesse to order good gifts book.org, and bless you, too, fogor doing it. >> and how great. and more good news. all right. we like to have an tis paying. here it is. if you are stress ed ed out in the holidays and you have gotten into from memory. >> it does. >> it takes a huge effort to free yourself from memory. and you know how something bothers you and you an't get it out of the head. >> and you kno when yyo have been deeply hurt, and y sou h,ve ofou

>> and this is is hhe quote from the guy who wrote "the al alchemist." and remember, yesterday we posted a a picture of y osef because he is single and still searching, and -- ra y! >> hey! >> and for the first part, that part was really fun an running for and i am happy to say they did raise my fund-raising goal thanks to you. and everybody else is very happy. my mom is battling multiple myeloma and i am running in march, and that is the primary reason. >> and that is just great.

he got proposals. >> and some very interesting pictures. >> evo mom, i promise it. >> we love you. >> all right. good luck on the rest. >> and now, finish the lyric. k how well people knew christmas songs so we sent donna adorable out on the streets to find out. oc tree ochristmas tree >>. i am so happy it is christmas >>go christmas tree o christmas tree >> oh, no. >> okay. hark the herald angels sing

deck the halls >>ce you don't know deck the halls? >>. jingle bells jingle bells jingle all of the way and oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh and heaven and nature sing >> yes! >> good job, donna. >> she has an interesting singing voice our star donna has. it is interesting and memorable, and you will never forget it. it is just lovely. >> i don't think that i have ever heard her sing. >> now, we are going to be singing guess the christmas song. including us don't know them very well. so we are going to -- what do we do?

>> no, we are going to listen or show it? >> we are doing to show it. we will see how many. >> and may all of the christmases be white. >> white christmas. >> how does people at at home know what we are doing? here are the lyrics. and the mistletoe and -- >> and may all of your christmas be white. >> that is white christmas, too. >> toe! >> and i'll be home for christmas. >> at home. >> and later we will have some pumpkin pie and some carolling oh. and carolling >> oh, it is the travel one -- i'm going to grandmas or all of that -- >> and later with e will have pumpkin pie.

>> rocking around -- i sneed the music. >> you don't have it. candy canes and silver bells aaglow >> it is beginning to look like christmas. >> say hello the you know. >> have a holly jolly christmas. >> good for you whoever yelled it out. oh, my favorite. >> you are to tell people. >> have yourself a merry little christmas. >> this not fup for the home viewer. >> okay. this will be though. >> and we v have other good news, the third piece of good news. "my big fat greek wedding" it is coming out for a sequel. >> so much fun. >> so to celebrate, we want to celebrate in sty14, and celebrate the greek wa t camera positions.

>> opa! sorry jerry and the guys. >> that is a poster fromy .original "big fat greek weing" and check out the sequel poster there. it. is is har i it, everybody from the original. in the new fill m they discover that the 1946 wedding didn't happen it never got signed so they are not legally married. >> and remember dex. >> and she wrote that, and i did not know it, but the original film is th her an oscar for "my big fa

>> and we are so happy for her. >> and something happened at a hockey match. te mood and the fight started and now listen. we wish you a merry christmas we wish you a merry christmas we wish you a merry christmas and a happy new year >> oh, my god. i mean, we shouldn't laugh, because it is a atrocious behavior. >> it is a hockey game. >> and if you saw more of it like we did the news winmpires, th referees doing? >> just skating around. >> why did they let them fight? >> it is part of it. >> they han't br sk it up. >> until the grab. >> anyway, that is good and he singing was excellent, and somebody lost one of his teeth yesterday in one of the hockey matches. >> it happens. >> you know what, the national hockey league has bp trying to

>> that is jack edwards there. an yd thma is going make your day. >> and now, on this video was post posted with a little boy holding his little baby brother and 62 million views since friday. >> do you love him? can i have him? >> no. me want to hold him. >> oh, he is so sweet. >> oh, how precious. >> oh, he keeps kissing him. >> c ile the you not o make it a about me, but i'm about to. that brings back a million memories. cody was the same way with cassidy, and it is a blessing u that you know how mux.ch you are going to love your children, but you don't know how

loowving each other. and to this day, he can't quit kissing her head. and she doesn't like it, but it is precious. >> they will have a bond those two for the rest of their lives. >> and now, i i noe know that you two have been having fun spotting may you won't spot him today, but who knows, maybe you will. and some celebrities have been showing elves visiting, too. kardashians. >> her elf plays pool. >> and this this one, the elves e rolling around in rolls. what is more fun than th . >> and here they are. >> and here they are watching "prose fro tog with her other son. >> where is that? >> it is there. >> and it is sad that we can't bring it to you. >> and we won't see the elf on a shelf because of the graphic si ation. situation. >> we is in "people" magazine and they wanted her to free associate

don't know what they are, so le t's see what she says. >> what did you say? >> i didn't do it. happiness, and hoda said morn g morning. >> in the mornings. i like s a not sunsets. i like the beginnings. >> love, and you said -- >>el joel. >> wow. that wou wn't have happened last year, and this is nice. they gave you kathie lee, and yoeru said -- >> faithful. >> that going to make me cry. and twitter, and you said ade.dicted. and the last one was guilty plmesure, and you said -- >> cookies, but it could have been one of many things. >> cute. so go to "people" ma and see what hody had to say. >> i want to give'a shout out tot meg row who is a big fan of show, and she is battling lung ncer, and we want her to know that we send our prayers and

warrior and has a great group of friend s friends and i had the chance to the eaph praying for you, and love you, honey. >> and cue kudos to our friend eric hill who is battling. >> yes shgs , we love eric. >> and love you, sweetie, and praying for you. okw ay okay. >> and have you felt up that got up and went? >> p am still looking. >> we will wake up donna adorable, and we have a winter wakeup call for you, gi is e going to be singing. good we're only human. te relon our courage. the kind of courage that shows up when we need it... least ex cting it. courage. just one reason more of us are surviving cancer

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than this. advil. between the cooking and the cleaning and the shopping and the wrapping and everything that you do in the normal day, you feel like you can't take another step. >> no better time to put some energy boosters into work than now.

circle" magazine is lydia floyd. >> hello, ladies. happy holidays. >> wouldn't we like more energy and wake up like donna adorable and feel energized? and what are the a-b-cs that little donna should do? >> well, when she gets out of bed drop and give me ten squats, and ten push-ups and ten lunges. and so the nice thing about this is that it is very easy and fast and exercise enhances the blood flow and pushes the oxygen throughout the body to get a lift all morn g ing long just are from that. just ten. she do go to the gym, just ten. >> and then what? >> a little aromatherapy behind her. and there are scents like ppermint that give you a boost of energy like jazmine and you can put it in the toothpaste and the lotion and the body wash. that is going to be the lift that you need. real easy, right?

while you are brushing the teeth. calisthenics, baby. >> and now, moving to breakfast. nutritions say you want a healthy balance of the carbs and the fats and the proteins, so smoothies th going to make your blood sugar crash and you don't want that. you want to be feeling full and energy day. >> oops! >> you are having such good reflexes. reflexes. >> that ne h is what you are expecting, coffee. but this is the unexpected part. it is when you drink the coffee. >> in is a difavcult one for me. >> you know e some of the tricks that we have, an wait until 9:30. >> that ist not going to be happening. shot. >> and can i ask you a question,

glass of water when you wake up, because you are dehydrated. >> no, throughout the day, this is and we will get to that, but yes,ydration is importt, cause one of the signs of dehydrat is feeling tired. >> and when i wake up, i drink a full glass and i fee much more awake of that than before. >> and we wake up so much earlier than normal. >> and yes, that is going to help a squeeze of lemon. coffee, and a stick of gum. it is refreshing to give you a perk. okay. here is one that is different and we are calling it the wonder woman pose, all right. and we will be standing like this, an the hips and chest puffed ou and reser research is showing a boost of testosterone. ab absolutely. so you get up out of your chair here. >> feel g ing power here.

equivalent of splashing your face with the ice water, and get it down, and this is the healthy indulgence into the afternoon and instead of diving into the brownie or the cupcake, a litooe square f chocolate. >> stop with one. >> i can't. >> but savor it. >> and here, music, it will get you going. >> if it gets going. >> it might not, but i thought that i tapped properly, but maybe not. >> and mno there we go. >> everybody knows how the music can give you a nice boost. >> when you are stressed out, kit calm you down. >> and over and over again, yes. >> and one of my favorite christmas songs, green tea in the aftern n really perfect boost will give you the caffeine, and that boost is not too much, right?

and last but not least, a little massage. >> under the ear lobe. >> yes, these are the energy channel channels in the body. >>now, thank ybo very much they were two strangers when they stepped on to the plaza. when it's your job to protect the world's eatest n sion, it's your respon sibility to solve the world's greatest challenges. this is why we search for the best and brightest. why we train for every eventuality on land and water, in the air, space and even cyberspace. we operate i a complex world with one simple mission. win. olive garden' s all-new flavorfilled pastas, with raviolis so nice we filled them twice. bursting with indulgent flavors like chicken marsala ravioli, an irresistible twist on an old anvorite. plus unlimited salad and breadsticks. for a limited time.

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>> it is winesday wens dnesday and we are getting ready to play a specia our trivia game called "who knew" with christmas in the air, we are about to test your christmas knowledge. kathie lee is across the street and ready to hand out $# 100 for those who get it right and her signed cd for.those who don't. >> "sentimental." >> and here with me is will

and here we go. >> each year on december 23rd, some folks in southern mexico create nativity scenes made out of this, doe nuts or radishes or legos? >> well, it is radishes. is amazin and thousands of people come up to see all of the beautiful creations which started with shopkeepers trying to entice people into their stores. >> and denmark does not have just santa, but they have these, a devilish elf who will play tricks on families unless they leave him his favorite food -- rice pudding, chocolate cake or tiramisu? >> rice pudding.

and this goes back to the scandinavian farming folklore and you do want to leave out the rice pudding, because that is so thing that you do not want to anger, bau the they are there to protect the livestock and help the chores if you are nice to them, but if not, the pranks areugly. >> back over to you kathie lee. >> what -- did you say indiana? close. and this is a christmas day hot spot in japan, mcdonald's, pizza t o kentucky fried chicken. >> mcdonald's? >> she wanted the cd. >> the correct answer there is kentucky fried chicken. kfc. >> yes, tha ey have convinced people there in japan since the ea'7s to show up on christmas day, and a sign that the christmas day has arrived when the commercials come on, and you have to have reservations because there are lines out of the door.

kathie lee. >> in great britain, some children use this unique method to send this letter to santa -- roll it up in a bottle, place it in the bottom of the fireplace or place it on the window sill. >> window sill. >> good day for me. >> and it is that they thr the back of the fireplace for santa coming down the chimney. >> and yes, it is neat, because the santa can read what the wishes are through the smoke are from the fire. >> clever and smart. okay. kath, over to you. >> from kentucky, icelander children were naughty over the past year, what might they receive instead of a present, a potato, spinach or carrots? >>hy a potato. >> darn! >> s has it right. a potato. >> it is, and you know, there are 13 santas in iceland and so it is nice that they have that and the kids as athey

up to christmas place them on the window sill, but if they have been bad, tha ey get a potato. >> and now, charlottesville. and now, italian folk lohr, a character named befana brings gifts of good cheer to children, and what is bef a ana? >> a good witch. >> yes, and he is still celebrating. a good celebration oves there. and so he does bring presents like santa claus, and a lump of codal for those who have been bad. >> thank you very much, and merry christmas to you and your fam family. >> thank you very much. o why the plaza has such special meaning from one couple, and we will also have a song are from straight no

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the world famous a capella group straight no chase ser currently on tour with their n cd called "old fashioned." >> they are singing one of the yuletide favor es with "o holy night night." straight no chaser. ooh ooh ooh o holy night the stars are brightly shining

long may the world to be appear ed ed at his word the will of hope the weary world rejoices for yonder a ew and glorious morn fall on your knees hear the angels' voices oh night divine o night divine when christ was born

oh night o night divine oh yes oh, yes the thrill of hope the weary world rejoices for yonder pray a new and glorious morn fall on your knee s s o hear the angel voices o night divine o

o night divine o night o night divine ooh yes ooh yes holy night holy night oh yes, ooh yes holy night holy night noid oh, yeah >> i have not heard it that way. >> wow. >> gorgeous. >> and we will ave an eng ing

strange ers before stepping out i aid i really can't s y baby it's cold outside i have to go away baby it's cold outside i really can't stay baby it's cold outside! p you never know who you'll

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once upon time there because pretty woman who came to the plaza with her mom and daughter. >> and it was on to-do list. and so they came to the look u through the window. >> and little did she kn that her prince charm g ing was feet away. >> and in fact, a shot of them was caught by our cameras. if you look closely, you can see them in the shot. >> yes, thhy are the ones that are not fuzzy. and guess what happens. d fuzzy to me. >> well, they exchanged phone numbers and then texts and turned into calls. the first night they talked for three hours, and then it turned into a date, and well, we will let you t l them. >> and they are jen mendez and lane snow. >> welcome, welcome. and a couple of year s s, you are out here coming to the today peek in the window. >> we wanted to be the stalker people. >> and the bucket list

and what hpened? >> well, i came into new york with a friend of min work with and i was off that friday and she had never been to new york. >> so you were with a girl? >> so when you were on the plaza, did you hear him notice him? >> well, it is just like this. >> i said, it is my lifelong drea to meet kathie lee. >> no shgs , the way you really said it. >> okay, i was cranky, and i said, oh, it is my lidyfelong dream the meet kathie lee. >> and i said, i just didn't even skip a beat, and i said, i'm so glad that we are here while you are realizing your lifelong dream. >> and so then you started to chat? >> i used to live in the town where she grew up. >> yes, after i was gone. >> and my old boss from where i use used to work there graduated in

and i sang with his boss >> this is god wink stuff. >> yes, tell the choir. >> and so, we were doing a radio show and we were talking about conversation icebreakers and you called up and you said, by the way, i met the guy at the plaza, and it is an amazing kind of 180, wasn't any. >> yes. and he gave me satellite radio for my christmas gift and i was driving to my parents listening to hoda at 2:00 p.m. on wednesday. >> so there are people listening! you never know because they don't do ratings so is you don't know who i i can move from the car to the office, too. >> and so when did it go from dating to you proposed? >> yes, i did. we have been together for now allimost six years. >> six years. >> and so i proposed a couple of years ago, and we were a uallt at her daughter's college in newport, and so i proposed to e

college came over while i proposed. >> and one of my favorite stories and i hope that you can quickly, when you brought him home, you asked her a question, and can you tell worried to meet her folk, because i was worried about, obviously, a mixed couple, and so my concern was, that and she put me to ease quickly. >> and he said, is your dad going to have a problem with me? >> i said, what? >> and he said because i'm black. >> and i said, my dad isn't going to care that you are black, but he is goi you are a giants' fan. >> lifelong. >> we are big eagles' fans. >> and by the i wash, happy birthday. and so we thought that you should celebrate, and so we you out some cake, and so why not bring your daughter out. >> come on out. >> and we will have some gifts for you. this is our favorite thing, and

drink here on our show. and some mug, and hoda's first book, and she has another one coming out, and one of my cd albums. >> i have the new book on order. >> i will give you one. >> and you know what we would like to make one suggestion? >> yes. >> and we would like to offer that we host your wedding right here on the plaza when you are finally ready to do it. >> i'm in. >> is it a deal? >> can our pastor come with us. >> done. >> can i wear the giants' jersey? >> no. >> and real quick, are you happy to see your mom this way? >> of course of course. i am happy to see her happy. >> and so in 2016, which hope that you become husband and wife right here on the plaza. and i will sing, what the heck.

>> and have you found regis? >> we will find out with some

a shoutout tofacebook nd thepo regis. way to go, l.j >> and there is t.j. nd>> swanson and her son both found . haley found regis hide ing in the scarf. >> that is not an easy one. and we hope that she spotted him. >> and if you spot him, take a picture him, and we will miss him, and we will have him back in the new year. and now, tomorrow, we will have l edition of "ambush makeover."