good morning, and merry ma christs, a day of faith and family, festivities and fun. gather around, because we're going to help you kick off your celebrations, as we wish you the happiest oholidays, today, christmas day, tuesday, december 25th, 2018. hey, everybody. welcome to this special editionh stmas edition of "today" show. >> merry christmas. >> happyan a. happy festivus. >> ftivus is the holiday for the rest of us. >> feats of strength. >> and our gr>>vances. hank you for joining us. this is our christmas edition. we're going to talk about the

season with cardinal timothy dolan here. >> and the power of forgiveness with a remarkable group of survivors. >> and we're going to share holiday traditions. >> and we have special performance. >> it's a beautiful part time of the year. we have a beautiful time. >> or like me, i have turned into m father, where my main concern is the trash, from all of the presents. it use eis -- are you that guy? >> i was talking about traditions. tradition?ing a >> gluttony. >> we have a fun show for you this morning. let's g o a check the top stories from nbc's morgan radford. merry christmas. >> good morning and merry christs to you. today marks the fourth day

of the government shutdown with no end in sight. most lawmakers fled the capit over the weekend, while mr. trump remained in washington. jaret headacaake is at thete w house. >> reporter: good morning. the president and the first lady went to church early in the evening. they made phone calls to children across the country. the president telling rorters in t room, there was no progress on that ongoing shrdown. earln the day, the president tweeted a picture of himselves in the oval office, saying he was having a meeting with hiser adv about north korea. we in washington are thankful today that t markets are closed after a very bad week, capped off yesterday with a 650-point sell-off that the president, on twitter, blamed on the federareserve. democrats are blang the president for that sell-off or the chaotic last week in washington, with the government

remaining closed this morni and no progress toward reopening. congress not back in town until thursday at the earliest. morgan? >> we wille watching things. until thursd garrett haake, thank you. now, to the tsunami in indonesia where the death toll has passed 420. >> reporter: good morning. search and rescue is still the first priority here, according to a local military commander i spoke with. that said, it's been three days since the tsunami struck. and they're realistic about the chance of still finding people alive. for survivors, today was a day to go back and sift through the troub rubble, to try to find something that was usable. i found two musicians that we performing in a beachfront restaurant when the tsunami

struck without warning. they managed to flee and today went back to find their guitar. part of the reason this was so devastating is there was no people had no time to prepare or get out of the way. the country is discussing the need for better early warning systems to alert people to thes. incident and the entire coastal area where we are, is under a tsunami advisory through the 26th of december. there's concerns there could be another one. morgan? >> sarah harman, in innearby >> sarah harman, in innearby 12 innear ♪ he's gonna do it! ♪ you gotta see this! ♪ owen's gonna do it! ♪

i got him. ♪ come on, come on, come on! alright! come on, come on! come on! yeah! ♪ so how about another game? >>savannah, hoda, back to you. we have made it a christmas tradition around here, spending a few minutes reflect mg on the

trning of christmas with our next guest. it is cardinalimothy dolan. >> a blessed christmas. a blessed christmas to anyou. thank you for making me part of christmas tradition. you want to be wit friends on christmas morning. you want to be withy fam and friends. i feel at home. thank you very much. >> you remind us about what this day is really about. it's not wha is underhe tree. >> no. you know. you know, the bestway, think, to explain it, the true meaning of what the world is telebrating s moment. if we borrow a term from our jewishor neig emmanuel. emmanuel isir t word for god is with us. we know god is with us all the time. sometimes he seems distant but not today. becae god is wit us in a tangible way that he became a

baby of beth hlehembethlehem. when we see at, we just know dratically, in a radiant way, that god is with us, emmanuel. i think that's important because as you know, one of the difficulties we've got is people feel alone. they feel alienated. sometimes they're temo ask, where is god in all of this. you have the responsibility of reporting news, most of which is dire and drastic. and you say, where is god in all this? there he is. he's a baby in the manger is with us. i think even the means of his birt god is trying to teach us a lesson. don't say i don't know what you're going through. this is a young couple with an untimely pregnancy. this is a young couple away from home. this is a young couple who arem ss and don't have a place to give birth to their first

iborn. th a couple with no family and friends around. an this is a couple, by the way, who within a couple days have to flee as refugees from a tyrannical king that wants to kill their newborn. if that's not a potent way of god our father saying i am with you, particularly when you think, i am not. >> particularly over the s holidays,e people are with family and loved ones and it'st loneliest time of year. >> even if you're with people, you can be lonely. >> they would have a ye beautiful -- ta meal ed had me every day, but they would invite the homeless and those without a place. iun looked a and saw people who were obviously not people of ans and the pastor explained

to me, h theye no friends or family. they want to come here. so mply p feel by themselves. even in a metropolis like th, people will say, i never felt more alone in my life. that's the message of christmas. be not afraid. you're not alone. i am with you all days. i have you in the palm of my hand. and i'm so close to you, i want you to p me up like a little baby and hold me to your heart. i became one at bethlehem. >> we talk to our kids, they're little. making sure that -- who doesn't love santa claus? but talking to little kids about what this isab all t. >> and there's beautiful customs at christmas that can assist us in passing on the true meaning ofchristmas. look at the crib set, to allow the kids to set tha up.

to allow the kids on christmas day, for one of them to bring the l baby in the crib. that's a great way to teach, god knew that. in the gospel, he didn't have to ll us how his son was born. but i think he wanted to teach us somethin and so do we. >> when you were a little boy growing u inmissouri, right? >> st. louis, missouri.as >> what christmas morning for you? >> i'm young. i remember back then, i am 68 now, when i w boy, you didn't celebrate christmas until the3rd and 24th. that's when we put the tree up. and the sense of anticipation and excitement. and my dad, you would work chstmas eve, and he would come home. we knew he would be free the next day. there was aense of freedom and warmth. we were together. obviously excited about thend giftshat santa was going to bring. religious meaning because holy infant perish inhi baldwin, was the perish a block away.

we went to mass together. when i got hoolder, i got to see midnight mass. and then you think, where is god? where ishe tradition? don't you think when the family is around the table, don't you think when the kids are opening gifts, there is god. emmanuel. is with us in all that. >> you are a catholic bishop. you come from one faith people watching come from all kinds of faith traditions >> a christians would b it.e sometimes i'm blessed with friends. i will talk to them and say, sorry if i'm wishing youerry christmas. do you feel left out? med they say, we rejoice in the

true ing. we believe that god is with us and allaeluia that christmas is able to transmit that >> don't you love him being around. >> hey, the eggnog helps. >> what are yo igoing to do? going to open presents. i have mass this morning. and i would go to one of t places where there's food and a meal for the poor. then, i'll kick back andla have a fire. maybe if somebody gives me good gars. maybe you send a thermos of the eggnog back. we'll have a good day. a blessedchristmas. >> thank you, cardinal dolan. merry christmas. the first family, it's b a busy holiday season for them around the white house, including a lot of talk about decorations. hallie jackson has more on that. good morning. >> reporter: good morning to and talk adecorations. utu. nearly 30 trees are inside the

white house here. some 14,000 ornaments, too. the trump family is waking um on this christmas morning, after what's been a very busy holiday season o and it's nr quite yet. >> tho,e, tw one t >> reporter:he white house, lit for christmas, outside and in, where melania trump decked the halls for her second holiday season. this year's theme, american treasures, with the most famous cities showcased on east room ornaments and fireplace mantles, representing new york, s louis and san francisco. each represented on 500 feet of blue ribbon, trimming this year'ss christma tree. the gingerbread creation, not a house but the matire national ll. in the red room, a nod to the

first lady's be best ittive. but nothing captured attention as the 40 crimson topiary trees that l social media. tt all of it positive. comparisons onli the sea of blood in "the shining," and the reds in "the handmaid's tale series." >> ip k having a nightmare where i walk flu a forest of blood. >> no. that was just my christmas decorateon. >> repor the first lady brushing off the mixed reviews. >> we are in 21st century and h everybod a different taste. i think they look fantastic. in real life, they lookven more beautiful. >> reporter: melania trump, seeming to settle into her role as hostess in chief, for her second white house christmas, welcoming crowds around country and closer to home. >> welcome to the white house. enjoy the evening. merry christmas and happy and healthy new ar. >> reporter: away from pennsylvania avenue, shele

asse care packages for troops overseas. >> this is one small way to say thank you and honor the sacrifices that members of the miliry make year-round. >> reporter: made christmas cards at toys for tots and read t kids at washington hospital. >> olivered to stick up for himself but he couldn't find the right words. >> reporter: 'tis the season for a story and a celebration. in l, it's expected some 30,000 people will make their way through the white house here by the end of the month to take in the holiday cheer. back to you guys. >> all right.ll jackson, thank you. in the meantime, as we dive into our christmas ,celebratio we of course want to remember the men and women serving in our litary who can't be with their families today. lucy kafanov has more on the troops overseas. good morning. >> reporter: happy holidays. we're in chile, poland, where

christmas markets like it a lile easier for troops to get in the festive spirit. nothing compare to precious time with family, especially over the holidays. but for men and women serving abroad, there's a job to be done. it's america's largest deployment in europe since the end of the cold war. welcomed by poland to deter russian aggression. threats don't take a holiday, which means major diana won't be home for christmas. she's been in poeland for three months. at the christmas market near the military base, she and fellow soldiers try to get into the holiday spirit, buying gifts for loved one thousands of miles away. >> merry christmas. s tough to be away from home. this is the job that i signed up for. and i knew this isas what i doing. i knew that my family didn't

>> reporter: back home at ft. riley in kansas, silvia watches over her youngest daughter, arianna. with mom in poland and step dad deployed to kuwait, this year is extra tough. >> it hurts a lot. you want the special moments tor be with y family. sometimes you don't get it. this is kind of one of my first christmases without my mom. it will be hard to deal with thatut >> reporter:he family finds other ways to stay in touch. .> arianna. >> ye >> what do you really want for christmas, out of anything if you have one thing, what would it be? >> xbox 1 and sims war. >> she wants her momme to come she wants you to come home with those things. >> reporter: america's military is in 150 countries around the world. from hot spots like ukraine -- >> merry christmas and a happy

new year. >> reporter: to afghanistan. >> happy holidays. >> reporter: and the korean peninsula. ♪ il be home for christmas >> reporter: for mservawg holid from family is the trade-off for line of duty. >> you have to make sacrifices for your family andyourself. you're not going to be happy unless you're doing somvehing you >> reporter: it's all sacrifice for american soldiers and their families, celebrating the holidays far from home. guys, back to you. >> lucy, thank you. >> always have to remember those who never get a day off. >> that's right. coming, three remarkable women we met in 2018, survivors of the charleston church shooting. and then, on a lighter note, did you know our rockefeller center christmas te has a

name? we're going to share the story behind shelby, this year's spectacular spruce. but first, o a christmas n

coming up, will it be a happy holiday for the royal family? h we're going td over to england and see what duchess meghan markle is up to on her first christmas as a royal. and we're going to gather around and share our favore liday traditions. but first, your local news and weather. you're gonna love if ythe best of geico.ercials, it's geico's all-time greatest hits back on tv for a limited time. and if you love the best of geico,

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welcome back. we have fun christmas-themed games to play throughout the morning. first, we're going to p our knowledge to the test with holiday trivia. al is the man incharge. you're going to quiz us? is that what's going down? >> yeah. anybody yell it. according to the song, what is frosty the snowman's nose made of? >> a carrot. >> a carrot. >> can i phone? a frie >> a button. >> a button nose and two eyes made out of coal. >> next o has to do with everybody's favorite movie "e

"elf." >> what does buddy the elf ask the person on the phone? >> we'ul awf at this. >> would you like to talk to santa? >> are we going to rdol? >> put tha. hello? hello? >> what's your favorite color. >> 0 for 2. >> this is goingwell. >> which of these places with a holiday-themed name doesn't exist? which does not exist? >> i'm going grinch, montana. >> santa claus, indiana. >> thr out of four correct, it's grinch, montana. >> what do w win? >> nothing. >> if you were the lucky recipie recipient. if you were the lucky recipient of the gifts from the song "12 days of christmas," how many days do you receive some kind of bird? >> four. >> two doves.

tw- >> i'm going to say four. >> six. >> hoda'sec co six. >> six days. whatever it was. >> this one is a gimme for all of you. >> what is the reason for the grinch's hatred of christmas? >> all that noise in whoville. >> the original. >> his heart is too small. >> how many sizes? >> three sizes. >> two sizes. >> when hets christmas spirit, it grows three sizes. >> we know nothing about christmas. >> who was that? >> the first song broadcast from space was a popular christmas tune what was the song? >> it's that mariah song. that's onll the times. >> "jingle bells." >> what year was that? >> doesn't say. >> ham and turkey are part of christmas dinners. in what country is kentucky

fried chicken popular to eat on christmas? >> japan. >> yes. >> you gave her the answs, clearly. >> there has to be a prize. >> is that true? >> it's ue. bring her a bucket of chicken. >> this is for you, to in this scene, from "love actually," mark showst up juliet's doooand fesses love for her because -- >> on ristmas, you tel people how you feel about them. >> you tell the truth. >> yes. that's the best movie. >> what movie is that? >> "love, actually." >> iaven't seenthat. >> i don't know the movie. you know "elf." >> what noted actor provided the conductor's voice for "polar express"? >> tom hanks. >> seven of santa's reindeer have towns in the u.s. that she the same name. which two do not? >> donner. >> praer and dancer. >> all right. there you have it.

>> wow. ♪ ♪ ri shiningt this morning on christmas morning. tuesday, december 25th, 2018. that's our gorgeous tree herer n rockefelnter. we loved being in its shadow for the last few weeks. coming up, we're going to have a tree behind the degre everybody has a back story. >> does everybody enjoy the holidays? >> it nice. >> you sound surprised. >> for a while there, i didn't know. thank you for keeping me aund. >> we have gifts coming up. we're going to share our favorite traditions as kids and

parents. >> and it wouldn't be a holiday without food and drink. rson and i are making a little feast.to po, roast beef -- >> and alcohol. >> what could go wrong? >> we have fire in the fireplace. anything can happen. >> we're going to make brandy alexander. as savannah mentioned, our rockefeller christmas tree has a special back story. he here's a little more on one of the holid season's iconic mb syols. earlier this month, this suce was inducted into the christmas tree hall of fame. a tradition that dates back to 1931, when the first tree was decorated and splayed in rockefeller center. >> when the tree is lit, it doesn't matter the temperature. there's a sense of warmth in the air. >> reporter: shirley and lisset are the owners of this farmhouse, 80 miles north of new york city. >> we call her shelby. >> she's smiling a is very

happy. >> reporter: every day this holiday season, 800,000 visitors will gather around shelby to make their own memories. after she made her way to rockefeller center, she was wrapped with five miles of lights and 3 million crystals. >> it will be a beautiful lasting memory. >> there you have it. fun to get the backhe story on tree. this year i was bummed, when they bring the tree intole rockef center. i love it when it's monday through friday and we can ride on it. and it fell onwe a end. >> the last few years it's been the weekend. >> the tree will be on display through the first week of the year. afthat, what do you do? it will be given to habitat for humanity and they build homes out of it. >> really cool. w >>t's going on? >> we got a little weather. that's what's going on around thetree. here's what's happening in your

neck of the woods. >> that's your latest weather. >> al, thank you. coming up nexthis ristmas morning, we're going to have fun sharing the holiday traditions we he with our families. >> and then, cistmas with the queen. how the holiday has changed for meghan markle, now that she's married to prince harry. and the bishop who inspired everybody at their weddinggs go to join us for ahristmas message. first, three women that hoda first, three women that hoda was fortunate enough to

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we're back on this christmas morning, with one t of most powerful and impactful stories that we covered in 2018, the perfect story for christmas morning, too. >> yeah, the goal of the series was to find forgiveness and to shine a light on people who managed to triumph over tragedy. that's what we found when we headed to charleston, south

carolina, and we spoke with three extraordinary women who survived the 2015 shooting at a historic church there. >> three women whose lives are intertwined between fate and faith and their sheer grace. >> police are on the scene at what police is assuming is a church at downtown charleston. >> reporter: her son was killed. polly sheppard survive as shots rang out, words from the shooter she will never forget. i'm going to leave you to tell the story jenni jennifer's husband was among the nine killed that magic day three years ago.

>> we were his girls. we wereeoing to here for each other. >> reporter: i caught up with these women athe second presbyterian church, one block from the crime scene. i el like i am around strength. do youeel strong? >> some days you can conquer the world and other days, you want it to go away. >> reporter: tooiy, their vces are being heard, preaching about the power and purpose of f forgiveness. i don't consider you victims. i consider you teachers. three people that can teach us . someth we watched you go through pain. we watched you on your knees. we watched you hug your community. and we watched you do something i feel is a miracle. >> we have to forgive. >> reporter: two days after losing loved ones, family members said, they forgive the shooter. >> may god have mercy on you.

>> reporter: how hard were those words? >> it wasn't hard at i had other things to say that go with it. someone behind me started crying. people don't know there was a lence in that room. it felt so serene.mn there was a cs in that room. >> we watched our son take his last breath. but looking over himow and beautiful he was, he seemed like he was at r:ace. >> reporolly describes a light in the room that seemed almost spiritual. >> there was a lht in that roomlmost like the lights were on. we were in the twilight. two different lights in that room. he had at laser on t gun that was one of the lying lights. but the other light, it was quiet. it was lne you were a different world. >> reporter: she says she felt

god's esence. >> i have no doubt he was in that room with us. w >> reporteh all that loss, you know he was in the room with you? >> i know god was in tha room, yeah. >> reporter: you feel the same pain and the same hope. so, polly, for you, the ea, i uld think that you would be livid, angry, want revenge, wan to just take the guy by the throat, you know? >> i was that way at first. but then, i thought about felisha. felisha lost her son. if she can forgive, why are you so hard-hearted that you can't forgive? forgiveness, you think you're letting somebody else off of the hook. but you're letting somebody else off of the hook. if you keep it, you have to love each other. that's our second commandment. >> reporter: you have to love each other.

forgiveness doesn't come easy. when somebody robs you of your b d, which is just what that man did, where are you on your journey? >> you know, you always want to forg that's what we're taught. sometimes i feel like i teeter totter. then, i know that is the right thing to do, to forgive. it's what we taught our girls. >> have you forgiven him? >> to an extent, yes. >> reporter: but n all the way? >> sometimes i look at my girls and they won't have the father/daughter dance. they don't have daddy to walk em down the aisl i think about them and their future and what their missing out. >> reporter: felisha sanders says it hasn't been easy for her granddaughr, who she saved by laying over her body during the attack. >> i grieve for my granddaughter. no 11-year-old child should be in combat. so, iave to -- i have to be

strong for her. >> yes. >> youo. >> i understan that whol wholehearted wholeheartedly. you have to be strong, you know? >> don't you get tired sometimes of being strong? do you ever get tired? >> all the time. all the time. >> it tells you in matthew 6, you have to forgive others to be forgiven. >> for us to be forgiven, we can go on and wear a smile. we can smile. >> reporter: the families and the victims were honored by president obama, who spoke at pinckney's funeral. >>t w a life he lived. >> reporter: when i saw president barack obama give the eulogy for your husband, i have to say, when he started singing -- >> "amazing grace."

♪ amazing grace ♪ amazing grace ♪ how sweet the sound ♪ that saved a wretch like me i once was lost ♪ ♪ but now, i'm found was blind, but now i see ♪ >> they're incredibly strong women. they point out that you don't just poof and forgive and it's over. every morning you have up and do it again. do it on tuesday and wednesday. >> they're still working on it. >> yeah. it will probably be going for the rest of their life like that. >> incredibly inspiring. >> yes. >> thanks for that. just ahead, the stockings,

the tree. we're going to ohare some our family's favorite holiday traditions. look at those guys. first, these messages. ♪ ok i'll admit. i didn't keep my place as clean as i would like 'cuz i'm way too busy.

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all right, coming up, do yot have family coming over later today? with a big mix of people and personalities, there may be a few clashes. >> 100%. >> we're goingelo you avoid some of the drama with a few f lessonm mr. manners. plus, al and i, we have a good feast. we're going to cook up our holiday favorites. i have a cocktail. you have some food. >> we're ready. >> main course. >> we have bellies. we have big pants. >> first, your local news and weather. oh! oh! ♪ ozempic®! ♪ (vo) people with type 2 diabetes are excited abt the potential of

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for others, it's a month-long excuse to eat holiday cookies. we're honor of that going to do a blind cookie taste test for you on this christmas morning. each of us will take a turn putting on our blindfolds trying to know what is under these domes. st up., you're f >> is this like "fear factor"? >> yeah. crickets. >> you never had the cockroach cookie? >> here we go. you want to see it? looks good. >> that's one of my favorites. oh. >> . >> wha is it? >> i taste the sugar. it's sary and -- is it oatmeal? >> no. another shot. you jus want the whole cookie. >> is it a ginger snap? >> you're on to isomething. it a sugar cookie? >> close. >> ned after a candy bar. >> a snickerdoodle.

>> i ruff that one. >> i can't get rdsnicdle. he's so happy. >> this is fun. >> i like the blindfold. >> ooh. to>> gross. >> it. i can tell. it's powdery. >> yes. >> i don't know what you call these. >> what do you taste? >> te callse a mexican wedding cookie. >> very close. >> it's also known -- >> you're absolutely correct. forhe judges say you w that one. >> that's what we call it. so yummy. >> hoda, what do you have here? >> oh. >> it'sve ali >> that's the tail. >> that's so mean. >> that's a ginger snap. >> boom. >> we know our. cooki >> melvin? >> oh. >> glad i didn't get that one. >> that's what t you want hear. >> i'm not joking. i'm glad i didn't get that one.e

>> lit surprise in there? >> raspberin some there's a filling. >> i wouldn't know what to call it. >> that's a linzer court. >> he told you the answer. >> al is xt. >> cocoa. >> it's a little dry. >> let me help you. >> i thi you're going to like it. >> it reminds us. >> oh, ham. >> it's a ham cookie. >> yes. >> actually, it's just a little ham because we all love the ham you send us for christmas, al. >> good one. >> that's. perfe >> quikey keto-friendly. >> i'll trade a snickerdoodle for theham. >> no one wants the linzer.

it's a controversial cookie. >> merry christmas. >> we'll be right back. are young to eat the ham? >> that's awesome. ♪

g have a holidly jolly christma♪ com up, a time for tradition. >> we're all-in with the matching pajamas. >> we share how we celebrate with the onese love during this special time of year. >> i can't wait for hailey to understand the joys of christmas. >> i le you, santa. >> i love you, >nta. ll i want for christmas is food. al and carso are whipping up a holiday meal with simple and delicious recipes for the whole and deck the halls.

pentatonax joins us for a performance onhis christmas, december 25th, 2018. >> it's christmas morning on isoday." >> my cas wish came true. >> we're on the "today" show. >> today is the day for holiday cheer. merry christmas from the rockettes. >> our favorite thing about ristmas is the lights. >> gingerbread houses. >> christmas >> christmas movies. >> and time with family. >> merry rochristmas. >> houston, texas. >> wishing our family and friends joy. >> merry christmas. >> that's a beautiful christmas card from our plaza. welcome back, everyone, on this christmas morning. >> it feels so good. >> what did you get me, craig? >> perct size. >> our fire, the flames are in slow-motion. >> i'm getting pretty hot.

this side of my face is so red from the flames. >> m head catches fire.ah ah. put it out. >> never gets old. we have a lot coming up. the star of the royal wedding, bishop curry is going to be here. >> rember hi we are going to talk to him about the holidays. and pentatonix. let's start with a check of the news at 8:00. morgan radford that covered for us. good morning and merrys. christ >> good morning and merry christmas. portions of the u.s. government will stay closed this week until th sides in the fight of president trump's border wall can, in fact, come to terms. garrett haake is live for us at the white house. where do things stand this mornin morning? >> reporter: hey, morgan. nogood morning. a lot of news on that front. it's been a silent night here at the white house. thestresident and f lady went to a late church service.

earlier in the evening, theyre called chi across the country, wishing them a merry christsis. and the pnt told reporters in the room there was no real progress on the shutdown talks, saying he wants to see stronger border security. earlier in the day, the president was tweeting, including a picture of a meeting with his advisers thatd he s was about north korea. we asked the white house about that meeting but so far havhe nt d much back. here in washington, i can tell you, we're thankful on this christmas day, that the markets are closed after that sell-off yet, capping a week or so ofre ly bad numbers in the market. the president was tweeting about that yesterday, as well. he blamed the turmoil in the markets on the federal reserve. but democrats pointed out that the chaos in washington is certainly taking its toll, especially that shutdown, which started, of course, friday night at midnight. w, coming into the fourth day, with no signs for it to break before thursday, when congress comes back at the soonest,

morgan. >> garrett, until then, stay warm. hop day holidays to you. d now, to thastating tsunami in indonesia, where the death toll has passed420. we have nbc's sarah harman indo sia, with the latest. good morning. >> reporter: morgan, good morning. search andescue is the first priority here, according to a local military commander i spoke with. at said, it has been three days since the tsunami. they're realistic about the chances of pulling anyone else out aliv for survivors, some of them were back today, sifting through the rubble, trying to find anything that wasn't completely terlogged or destroyed. part of the reason that this tsunami was song devasta is that there was no warning. people didn't have a chance to flee or gather any possessions. the country is now talk aboutee the for better early warning systems to alert people when a tsunami is ming. and the entire coastal area here

is under a tsunami advisory unl december 26h. there are concerns there could be another one. morgan? >> sarah harman for us in indonesia. earah, thank you so much. let's t a quick look at the weather. it looks like a white christmas in the central rockies and som heavy rain in other parts of the central and southern plains. now, for a look at your local forecast. >> that's all from here. merry christmas and happy

holidays. guys, back to you. just ahead, he said the power of love can change the world. our pal, bishop michael currys here, to share his christmas message with us. > and it's a holiday debate, real tree or fake tree. what we prefer in our families and real some of our other favorite 'sadition. thatfter this. ♪ ever since darrell's family started using gain flings, their laundry smells more amazing than ever. [darrell's wife] uh, honey, isn't that the dog's towel? [dog sfx] hey, mi towel, su towel. more gain scent plus oxi boost and febreze makes gain flings our best gain ever. gain. seriously good scent. cat's inner voice: the floor is lava! the floor is lava! save yourself!

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a lot of people across theak countryg up on this christmas morning, taking part in beloved fam ytraditions. it's one of the best parts of the holiday season. 's it is. and it fun to hear what everyone likes to do. what are our favorite parts ofy the here's a few of the days tha we celebrate with our loved oves. i christmas. it's my favorite holiday. my dad loved it. it was a special time around o house.

he was born on christmas day. i feel this special connection to the liday. >> love how it makes you feel l e how people around you feel. >> it reminds me of being a child. i think sometimes in this grown-up world, we forget about the wonder of, like, snow and of a kid's facey when t see santa claus. >> i love the holidays more now than i did before i had kids. being able to see christmas through their eyes, it's a game-changer. >> this is my first full year without having my parents, who i lost. like so many, we're grateful for fami and focused on spending good quality time with each other. >> everybody see to be a little nicer. everybody, i think, makes more of an effort. >> i love the reason behind the holiday sson and what it means, family, friends and faith. >> a couple years ago, deborah hent in on ugly christmas

sweater. that was our christmas card. i thought i would take it up a notch and go with the christmas suits. >> we're all-in with the hrmatchingtmas pajamas. mike is the ring leader. he lays out the pajamas the night before.>> the gift the night before are always jammies. they'reupset about that. >> my wife wraps gifts on christmas eve. i stay uo comment on the gift wrapping. i'm not very good, but i carved out quite the niche as af supervisorift wrapping. >> i cannot wait for haley to understand christmas. d i want her to have that magical feeling inside, like that good things happen. and christmas is that day. >> i am team real tree all the way. weever had a fake tree.

i do not judge fake trees. but we love to pick out the christs tree. we left our christmas tree up and it was march. someone rang the door to visit. and my parents said, get the llee. it was s up. it was artificial with lights on. we took the tree and ran it into the storage room and shut the door. we went in next christmas and that was deckedalready. >> nick and i do a tradition of cut your own. wery to wear red flannel shirts. ♪ i'm a lumberjack and i'm okay ♪ >> why would anyone cut down th ♪ i sleep all night and work a day ♪ >> this is dumb. and io out and do it. ever since then, i'm a tree guy. >> we're team real tree. now that i have age mortga i understand the importance of maybe having a fake tree that is

firepro fireproof. we have a fireplace near the tree. i look at it through the lens of my dadnow. this is a disaster. i think i was on the nice list. >> i was usually on the nisz lis nice list. i was a good kid and a good helper. >> i teetered between nic and naughty. >> i was on the nice list. you stray into the naughty realm. from mid-november to that last week ofdecember, i was spot-on. >> young craig melvin was on the naughty list every year. as chris has would approach,e would plead his case and to make santa understand why he was misunderstood. i'm a sucker for "national lampoon's christmas vacation." ♪ alleluia >> "elf." buddy the elf.t is that w everybody is saying? >> "elf." i just laugh out loud.

you ask every woman or most women, it's "love, actually." >> i love "love, actually." >> "love, actually" without qupltion. the p that don't realize that that is the best holiday film is theennes that h seen it yet. >> i like "die hard." and it's a christmas movie. make no mistake. just not a c familyhristmas movie. make sure the kids are asleep. y yippee-ki-yay. >> hands down, "silent night." not any "silent night," but "silent night" by the temptations. ♪ at the sight holy ♪ how can youot love that? >> "this christmas," by donny hathaway. ♪ this christmas mistletoe ♪e

>> "oh, holy night." >> "christm in hollis" by run dmc. iauiked that bec it was a rap song but christmas. >> i love "hark the herald angels sing." especially the charlie brown christmas version. when they tilt their head up, you see the mouth and the nose. it's fantastic. happy christmas. happy kwanzaa. festivus for the rest of us. >> run dmc, >>huh? come on, carson. >> hollis, queens, man. >> carson is so much cooler than the rest of us. >> sviously. >>aking of holiday traditions, you know who will be starting new ones today? meghan markle. i this her first christmas as an official member of the royal family. lly cobiella is across the pond with more on this christmas morning. kelly. >> reporter: guys, good morning. this year, meghan has pulled off an epic roy wedding, won over

the in-laws and the queen and time for a relaxing holiday, right? not exactly. what a year for theew duchess. and now, christmas with the queen, a holiday steeped in centuries of tradition. d it starts when her majesty steps off of the tin in norfolk, with william and harry kicking off festiviti with their annual scer game. then, the whole royal family goes to sandringham. in ugly saters? maybe not. but on christmas eve, they take tea, trim the tree and exchange gifts. what do you get the family who has everything? for the royals, the cesier the better. prince charles once let a white ather toilet seat. andee meghan got the qun a gift

for her dogs, a singing toy hamster. fore 1988, for centuries, the royal family celebrated christmas here, at windsor cale. and it was this famous queen, victoria, who put m soh of the magic into our modern christmas. >> we have t water colors painted for queen victoria and ince albert. >> reporter: now, a new book, celebrating a royal christmas through the ages. >> victori and albert popularized many things, such as the christmas tree, the christmas card. the first christmas card believed to be sent in 1843. >> reporter: this is from1939. that's the queen at age 13 and her littlest . she and prince philip are sending cards today, 850 ofll them, hand-signed. and windsor castle, still aglow with the spirit of the season. back at sandringham, it's ristmas morning. and meghan, just as she did last year, will join the whole family

for mass. then, there'stmhat chr turkey. it'sio traditn, too, started by king henry viii, who ate boar's of beef a huge hunk queen victoria served up the same, but her menu was in fren, just as it is at sandringham today. by the evening, like many o us, it's time for fun and games. the queen, agiflted performer, once put on plays with her sister. now, it's charades. now, she has compe tion with meghan in the game. prince harry told his wife, whatever,ou don't upstage the queen. and the day ends for everyonety when her majoes to bed. one tradition not passed on, the day after christmas hunt. for animal lover, meghan, a

chance to create her own tradition. guys? >> kelly, thank you. you cannot talk about harry and meghan without talking about their wedding. >> and you can't talk about the wedding without talking about the sermon of bishop michael curr he's our n best friend. he's here with us this morning. good morning. merry christmas. >> merry christmas. ho, ho, ho. >> you had such a year. the royal wedding.ou and were there to preside over the funeral for president bush.it been quite a year for you. >> the best part is more and more people are hearing about your message. you talk so eloquently about the power of love. that's a great message for christmas. what does christmas tell about the power of love? >> at the core of it, it is at the power of love. i didn't invent it. there's a passage in the new

testament, that god loved the world and hforgave son. it is not a god-given take. god gave, to the point of vulnerability. trusting himself as a child in the hands of two mortal,ll le, human beings. that's remarkable. that's what love looks like. there's a christmas hymn -- i don't know if it' wit ee's welln the states, the first line loys, came down at christmas. that's what the heart and soul of christmas is about. >> people want to be filled with love and want to have it on this day. but there's things that happen in this opfe. that have been through tragedies and people who have seen things they wish they't diave to witness. how do you restore faith on this christmas day? >> what would it look like to love on this day. beyond the gifts of giving.

iat's fine. what would look like? is it somebody who is lonely and by themselves? what would love look like there? how would i invite you to dinner? here was a as a frienkid, woman who had an empty chair at her dining room table. it was likhe chair for elijah, in the jewish tradition, that somebody needed to be here. what does love look like for somebody that might be alone, or had a loss in the las year, to reach out and make space for them. that's the kind of stuff that can make difference for the giver and the receiver. >> growing up,ou had bittersweet christmas when you were a young boy with your mom, around your mom. >> this would have been 19 or 1967. and my mother had a massive cerebral hemorrhage on vacation when we wereew here inork.

she was in the hospital and eventually in a coma.as theret much they could do. and for a good several months, ither my sister nor i had seen her. thosedays, children weren't allowed in hospitals. '53.s born in do the math quick. i was a kid, young teenager. we hadn't seen her at all. daddy h been in and out. it was at a christmas that they were able to movem her f mt. sinai here to a hospital in buffalome and to aers inning there. if itis wasn't cas eve, it was the day before. i wasn't focused on the gifts i was getti under thetree. the gift was mommy there. sheas in a coma. after school, we would get home,

we would do our homework and watch tv. nd she was lying there in the bed. we hoped daddy would pray episcopalian. the it would be short. and grandma was a baptist. we would be there longer. >> how long does that help you navigate through grief and time. >> that' love. that's devotion. >> it is. >> merry >> your book is wonderful. >> thank you. you all are wonderful. >> thank you. still coming up, we have a lot more including a new twist on a holiday classic and three-time grammy winners, pentaton pentatonix. ♪

nothing beats a big mug of cocoa or spiced cider on a cold winter's day. good thing another favorite is here on this christmas morning. zane holmquist. >> hi, zane. >> did you say spiced or spiked? >> a little of both. >> all right. what do you have for us? >> we made a great cider glog. >> what's a glog? >> anytime you add alcohol to a beverage to freshen it up, it works great. we had a little bit of mapl a maple nothing today. we hav reindeer hot chocolate.

let's go one by one. this is the glog. >> that's the sound you make when you drink it. >> a little brandy going on here. it has a sharpness. >> i like that. >> is it hard to make, zane? >> we make this. put it in that crock pot, that slow cooker. let it stew and fill up the w housh aromatics. >> this seems so festive. imagine having your friends over and being, here. and a version of a traditional eggnog, with lots of map until there. . >> wow. >> oh, my. >> wow. >> oh, my.>> wow. >> oh, my. >> that adds spice to your holidays. >> wake me up around groundhog's day. >> you can me ice cream out of

it. >> oh, yeah. >> that's a little strong. >> i love you. >> this is our reindeer tracks. this is our reindeer tracks hot chocolate. >> i can't have this, ther. >> butterscotch and milk chocolate and pretzels and pecans. this is on the lighter side. no lie brags bations for the ki. >> oh, my sh. did you try it? get involved. it's so good. >> it's the best hot chocolate. what did y put in it? >> the trick is the butterscotch and the pecans. >> how do you do that? >> when you heat uphe condensed milk and you add the chocole and the butterscotch, it's a meal. >> how do you celebrate the holida >> youknow, we're always skiing and out on the hill.

>> you make these at the stein erickson lodge? we are ready to book. >> we're in park city, utah. greatest snow on earth. >> i have never skied. i could get into that after-ski life thing. >> park city is wind ears favorite town. >> what do you sell the most? >> the glog is probably our biggest. we do a mulled wine off of the hill. coming in in that afternoon. we keep that vintage feel. fun drinks. >> that's love in a cup right there. >> merry christmas. >> thank you so much. >> cheers and merry christmas all. >> go to today.com/food. we're back in a moment.

they're playing our song. >> 25th day of december, otherwise known as christmas morning, 2018. we hope you're enjoying a festive day with pple you love. >> sometimes families can make christmas dinner somewhat stressful. we i brought mr. manners on how to deal with theosey cousin and the obnoxious uncle. we are going to cook and w have picked two of our best. al and carson will share some of their favorite recipes. >> it's christmas morning. there should be presents, don't you think? we love each other. it's fun to do this. we decided to do secret santa ch

ge. >> okay. >> the producers sected one of our co-anchors for each of us. had to be 25 bucks or less. and they told me to start. and my recipient is carson >> i wanted to think of what you would like and what would be nice for you. iet wanted to g a drone but i'm sorry. >> it's a beautiful ornament and pictures of my family on it. you made that. it's incredible. >> i didn't personally make it. but i ordered it. i thought you would like it for your tree. >> cooking and the kids thp it says merry christmas. >> and siri sent me the picture. >> is there something online? >> there's a few places you can get it. the one we got so fast was cvs or something. >> i have hoda.

>> oh, >> let me preface this with saying, you have wores of inspiration every day. when i think of you, i think of inspiring words that i read before i start my day. i wanted to pay that forward. i know you have a blake shelton cardboard cutout in your office. >> hello, hoda. this is blake shelto >> i was at "the voice," and had you.ecord that for >> that's the best present ever. >> hello, hoda. this is blakehelton. i love you right now. >> right now. >> words of inspiration. >> i love it. >> mine is for savannah.va ah is always looking for a couple of things. i thought it would beice if we had a couple of the things she's always looking for. >> wow. i was expecting it to be a

little bit -- >> thank you. >> she's a tic tacc. fana we eat all of rs it's ta ee it's tic tacs and tic tac gum. now what happens? >> oh, ie. someone has to pick it up. >> i think i'm up. mr. roker. >> i see what happened here. >> uh-huh. >> 25 bucks or less. ->> a >> it's wrapped. >> it's not real but it's from the heart. >> i'm being my father and taking care ofhe trash. >> you read your de. >> it says best. >> and mine says friend. >> that's cute. >> it's like middle school all over again. >> wow. >> one of the high lights lghig year has been our frienduip. ave to put it on. it's only awkward if you don't

wear your half., >> we you know what? i'm going to do that as soon as we're done. >> would you like a littlealk the fireplace? >> i have to do some manscaping before i put this on. it's very nice. yo have and i know -- >> i got you a best friend necklace, too. >> that's what makes it awkward. this is something i have, ands a traveler, you will appreciate because it will hp you sha and share alike. it's a four-port usb charger. >> ron always has a charger. >> i give you a best friendsne lace and you give me a phone charger. >> you'll get a charge out of that. hank you. it's a little weird. >> thank you. >> you're welcome. >> what if he was wearing one that said friend right now. >> it would be even morear aw if possible.

>> lester holt is somewhere going -- en that's what's under our tree. here's what's hag in your neck of the woods. we know holidayes par and family get togethers can be so much fun. but they can also be a little stressful sometimes. >> here with pesky personalities and how to encounter thems mr. manners, thomas farley. good morning. >> good morning. >> we're playing somebody at a party. al, who are you?

>> i'm extravagant die. he overspends on his gift and takes sure everybody knows it. >> with extravag eddie, you cannot match dollar for do this is how he needs to show off. if you feel uncomfortable aboutt it, w i recommend next year is give him a list of what you want, with iems that are m reasonable. don't leave it to chance. >> like cars. l>>tle match boxcars. exactly. >> i've got nosey nina loves to ask the questions no one wants to answer such as, when are you having kids? have youd weight? and when are you two getting married? >> in nina's case, it may be that she cares about your welfare. >> she is stirring the pot. >> exactly. >> she's been married for 30 years and you're single, she not understand what it is to be

single and she wants you to be like her so she can relate to au. bear in mi you hear those questions, you want to divert. take it in the spirit that it's intended and move the conversati elsewhere. >> let's get to eggnog elsa. she overdoes it. >> how did you get that one? >> ion't know why y always get this character. it's not typecasting, i progrme. some a drunk person can be a fun addition to a party. if you're a more lively version of yourself. maybe this is not a bad thing. >> you're holiday hoda. come on. >> remember that for next year. if the person is boming aggressive or embarrassing themselves, then you want to divert. here's how we do that. make sure eggnog elsa has plenty of hors d'oeuvres. >> stuff her? >> stuff her full of fo h. e a room ready just in case she needs to sleep it off.

>> if she passes out. >> that's enabling. >> how about scroogey sam. he never likes gifts. he nitpicks all aspects of theb ceion, bringi ining other people down. >> is like when somebody get gives a best friend necklacey ad on't like it. >> i can relate. >> ask him for his exact size, color, what is it that he wants in advance, so you're not leaving anything to chance. remember, there's some peo ae th happiest when they're miserable. and if that's the case, don't let them bring you down. instead of feeding the negativity, saying it's a shame you feel that way. >> i'm political paul. somebody is talking about politics all the no one wants to have that conversation. >> watch out for the trick ngestions. anyts innocuouinnocuous, what d you think of the white house decorations -- >> like pass me the pecan pie.

don't pass it. >> carsondaly. >> don't invite paul. it's beginning to smell like christmas. we're going to cook a holiday feast. first, this is "to

back on "today food," al and t have put on ourselves to put together the holiday menu for everybody. >> recipes that are simple, easy and sure to please a crowd. >> we're going to go a back with carson family tradition. we would have arandy alexander. this is my mom's recipe. this is a staple in my house. i le my mom's handwriting. i keep this with us. it's like a cup and a half of brandy. i've added ice cream to it to make it a little more --

>> for the kids? >> and you can make this alcohol-free for the kids. the ratio is like a cup and a half brandy to a cup of cream decocoa and a h cup off and half. then, you add some ice to it. trying to go fast. sorry. >> no wries. >> we' blend it. pulse it up. and it gets to almoshe consistency of a delicious adult mi mi milkshake. we had a dog named after this drink. we called her lexie. i know you're makesi imaking a s meat. these are new potatoes. you get them on the pan here. you take a fork and you smash them down.th , you're going to drizzle this mixture of olive oil, rmesan cheese and italian. your oven is at 450 and you pop

it in for 10 minutes. you get these christmas potatoes. >> ming a standing rib roast. a big hunk of meet and three ribs. ou're going to make a paste of garlic, thyme, rosemary, whatever spices you like in there. m you're going t that up. you're going to liberally salt this and pepr it. sometimes what i like to do is put a grate in there, a rack in there. you're going to coat this, after you've put your salt and pepper on. >> you do both sides? >> just the top. you're going to get your oven preheelt preheated. you're going to let that in there for two hours and then turn theven off. instant read thermometer, once

it's at 160 for medium, 145 for medium to medium rare. you let it come out and then it will rise a little bit. >>his is a sticky toffe pudding. put a little eggnog here. little eggnog. >> look atthat. >> and then, you have your toffee topping on top. >> that's next level. >> oh, man. >> what's going on there? >> that with the brand alexander milkshake would be amazing. >> this is what i wan to eat. this sort of steak and potatoes cocktail with family. >> this is really strong. >> that was my mom. >> love her. >> for these recipes, go to today.com/food. coming up next holiday music to go with our holiday menu. pentatonix is here. in is "today" on nbc.

the citi concert series on "today" is proudly b present citi. >> h pentatoni quickly become a holiday staple. >> they were with us from theig treeing and back with a song from their holiday album, "christmas is here." ♪ rockin' around the christmas tree at the christmas party hop ♪ ♪ mistletoe hung where you can see ♪ ♪ and a couple drop a step ♪ rockin' around the christmas tree ♪ ♪ and later we'll have some pumpkin pie and we'llo some

caroling ♪ ♪ you will get a sentimental feeling when you hear ♪s ♪ voinging "let's be jolly ♪ ♪ deck the halls with boughs of holly" ♪ ♪ rockin' around the chri♪mas tree have a happy holiday♪ ♪ everyone dancing merrily in the new old-fashioned way ♪ do, do, do, da, da, da, da da, da, da, da, la, da ♪ ♪ la, da, da, da, da, da, da da, da, da, da, da, da ♪ ♪ you will get a sentimental feeling when you hear ♪si ♪ voiceing wiet's be jolly ♪

♪ deck the hall boughs of holly" ♪ ♪ rockin' around the chstmas tree ♪ ♪ have a happy holiday ♪ everyone dancing merrily the new ♪ ♪ old-fashioned way >> pentatonix, everybody. their album is "christm is here." we're back in a moment. first, this is "today" on nbc. ♪

♪ we're almost out of time this mornheg. but's always time for more treats. >> of course. >> zane holmquist from park city, utah, with some treats fo>

us. easy things to make on christmas day. fudge, we have two different kinds. reindeer tracks fudge. and our candy cane fudge. a swirl mix and savorypbits. and then, my favorite, we have our everything bagel popcorn.as supe >> they sell this. >> pop your popcorn, a little butter. spice in and give it a go toss. >> perfect. >> and away you go. >> thank you so we want to leaveou, we toast you, our friends here and at home. >> andhank you to the wonderful, awesome, m"today" tea for theea work they do all year long. >> merry christmas. ♪

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♪ ♪ > we have one minute to complete some christmas ta es. >>h of you needs to put on

your mitts, if you h't already. and the goal will be to remove the paper. whoever finishes or gets the most wrapping paper off of the presents, they win. hey, batter, batter, batter, batter. [ crowd cheers ] like everyone, i lead a busy life. but i know the importance of having time to do what you love. at comcast we know our customers' time is valuable. that's why we have 2-hour appointment windows, including nights and weekends. so you can do more of what you love.

my name is tito, and i'm a tech ops manager at comcast. we're working to make things simple, easy and awesome.

from nb"tnews, this is ay." >> and a goodni m to you. merry christmas. craig melvin, al roker, sheinellejones, jen ma buna bus hager, jacob soboroff. >> we're not here. this is on tape. >> i would imagine a lot of people at home are opening gifts or opened gifts. go-tos. what's your go-to gift? >> a an. every year, my mother-in-law gives me a beanie. if you have cold heads, call me.

>> i remember when