[Christmas Bells] A Child's Christma in Pittsburgh is made possible by contributions from viewer like you.

[Christmas Music Plays] At Christmas, Pittsburg has its own traditions, especially for children.

The visit to Santa, the animated store windows, the large trees, and small figure at the Carnegie.

The legendary Spirit of Christmas at PPG place.

The nighttime ligh display at the Pittsburgh Zoo, the Holiday Flowe Show at Phipps Conservatory.

And the Miniatur Railroad and village at the Bual Science Center.

[Singing] (♪) Need a little laughter!

Ha, Ha Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!

Need a little singing!

Sing, sing sing, sing, sing!

through the laugh o need a little snappy!

Happy Ever After!

Need a little Christmas Now (♪♪) [Music Plays] Tonight, The QED Children's Festival Chorus, under the direction of Christine Jordanof and the Carnegie Brass Quintet capture these Pittsburgh traditions as they lead u on a musical journey to the sight and sounds of Christmas.

[Opera Singing] A Child' Christmas in Pittsburgh!

[Opera Singing] Light up night in Pittsburgh.

One of the signs of the special season is about to begi Christmas!

It's a season for children and for a time, the child in all of us.

There's a sense of continuit in this season, for although the trapping of Christmas may change from year to year the spirit remains the same.

We dress up the kids and parad through downtown, and as we do, we renew a traditio that began in our childhood [Music Plays] We can all recall the sound of the city at Christmas.

On just about every stree corner.

Holiday music.

All of this activit is taking place at the corner of Fifth and Smithfield.

[Music Plays] Traditionally, on the da after Thanksgiving, families and shopper converge on the Golden Triangle to find the Christmas present.

That's just right.

And to look at the animated figure in the department store windows.

[Music Plays] Pittsburgh kids, trailin along with their parents, have been trotting alon Smithfield Street and up and dow Fifth Avenue for years, even as far bac as those ancient times when most women shopped in hig heels and most men wore hats.

[Music Plays] But when mom and da brought us downtown, it was to look at the toy and to visit Santa!

[Music Plays] Most of us have thes old photographs and our memories of waiting in line to sit o Santa's knee and whisper the carefully memoriz list of toys we wanted.

It was an excitin and enjoyable moment.

Most of the time.

But the Santa at Horn was plucky as well as jolly and listene to what we had to say.

(♪) Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, Lean Your Ear This Way!

Don't you Tell us, sing your soul!

What I'm going to say!

Christmas Eve is coming soon.

Now, you, dear old man, this the what you bring to me.

Tell me if you can!

when the clock is striking twelve, When Im fast asleep down the chimney.

Broad and black.

With your back your cream!

All the stockings you will find hanging in a row.

Mine will be the shortest one.

You'll be sure to know.

Johnny wants a pair of skates.

Sussie wants a sleigh.

Nelly wants a storybook.

Once she has a friend!

Now I think of me to you.

What you give the rest!

Choose for me Dear Santa Claus, what you think is best!

(♪♪) [Music Plays] At Christmas the downtown department stores were and are wondrou places.

Here was a pictur perfect world.

Always i order and always a delight.

We touche and fingered the toys.

Some as delicate as crystal.

We pondered over objects whose usefulnes we couldn't quite understand.

And we wondered whethe any other time of the year offered as much of a rio and bounty as this But we knew tha if we were good, Saint Nicholas would make all of our Christma dreams come true.

(♪) Johnny wants a pair of skates.

Sussie wants a sleigh.

Nelly wants a storybook.

Once she has a friend!

Now I think of me to you.

What you give the rest!

Choose for me Dear Santa Claus, what you think is best!

(♪♪) If we wished for toys we also wished for a Christmas that was white.

These are the kind of Christmases we remember.

Lush, deep and white.

This is closer to the reality of Pittsburgh slush.

For those who like fact are average temperatures for December 25th are high of 3 degrees in the low of 22.

But not too many big snowfalls, but in the kind mirror of memor the Christmas is reflected back to u are always filled with snow.

If the working men and wome gave Pittsburgh it's giant industry.

Nature gave the cit its great hills, perfect for sliding and for sledding.

Tastes pretty good, dude.

The cold weather has brought Pittsburghers outdoor ever since the city was founded.

It wasn't too long ago at the pond at Schenle Park was used for ice skating.

There's modern rink in the park now.

At the first snowfall, it was a thrill to coast dow the hill with dad.

Dad had the thrill of hauling the sled back up again.

In the spirit of holida sharing.

Everyone got a ride.

Even the family cat.

And there was that moment of immense artistic pride.

The creatio of our first snowman.

In our memories.

Christmases are always white.

[Music Plays] Whatever the weather, There's a place in Pittsburg where both kids and grownups have been goin for almost 40 years to get a running star on Christmas.

It's the Buhl Science Center, the plac we first saw the giant pendulum and were stunned by the displa of static electricity.

Each year in early November.

Children of all age opened the large doors and enter into a miniature world.

The Christmas Town Railroad.

It's been a holiday must for thre generations of Pittsburghers.

It doesn't matte how many times we visit it, there's always something ne to see and something old to remember.

This is what it was lik in the 50s, when our teachers herded us dow the huge staircase on a pre-Christmas field trip.

[Music Plays] This twirling and tiny worl is still here.

And grandparents uncles and aunts, moms and dads with their kids ove 120,000 people each year circled the display where it's always 192 and the railroad was king.

When cities and towns were connected by the trolley and by railways that had mysterious initials P and Le, me and O.

[Music Plays] The miniature railroad an village opens early in November and just about the right tim to fulfill a special need.

About the time we really star thinking about Christmas.

(♪) Hall Alls The Holy!

put up the tree before my spiri falls again.

Fill up the stocking!

I may be rushing things but deck the halls again now!

[Deck The Halls Now For we need a little Christmas!

Right this very minute!

Candles in the window!

Carols at the spinage!

Yes, we need a little Christmas.

Right This very minute!

It hasn't snowed a single flur but Santa dear were in a hur so down down the chimney!

To on the brightest street o that youll ever see!

Some, some the fruit cake!

Its time we had some tinse and that evergreen now!

For I grown a little leaner!

Grown a little older Grown a little sadder!

Grown a little older!

And I need a little ange sitting on my shoulder.

Need a little Christmas Now!

For we need a little music!

Da, Da Da, Da, Da, Da, Da Need a little laughter!

Ha, Ha Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!

Need a little singing!

Sing, sing sing, sing, sing!

through the laugh o need a little snappy!

Happy Ever After!

Need a little Christmas Now (♪♪) [Music Plays] It wouldn't be Christma without the school pageant.

The other kid always got the best parts.

Joseph, Mary the three wise men.

We were shepherds.

They played Santa or Mrs.

Claus.

I miss.

We were trees, but we were there dancin and singing our hearts out.

Mom and dad were there too.

Recording for all tim a great dramatic moment.

[Children Christmas Chanting] The traditions of Christmas pas from generation to generatio to thousands of Pittsburghers.

These traditions are not alway all American.

Probably mor than any other city.

Pittsburgh preserve a rich variety of ethnic traditions songs, stories, and customs carrie from the old country to the new.

Thes traditions are brought to life every year in the winte garden of PPG place.

Here, kids from all ove the area come to view the life sized replicas of the Christma legends from the old country.

Grandfather Frost from Russia who travels the forest dispensing gift while wearing winter furs, a bishop's robes.

[Music Plays] In the Ukrainian tradition, the head of the househol carries a special shaft of whea into the home, a symbol of the family' gathering together at this special time of year.

The German holiday season begins with a celebratio of Saint Nicholas Day.

On Christmas Eve, he brings gifts to all childre who have been good.

And from somewhere to the north, our own Santa Claus maker and giver of th toys we find under the tree.

La Buffon from Italy.

She carries a cane as a warnin to naughty children and a handbel to announce her arrival.

In Pittsburgh.

The Italian holida tradition is strong.

[People Singing] That's the way it is in the hom of ten year old Frank Marino, a member of the Q.E.D.

Children's Festival Chorus.

Each year, the family trim the tree and sings the traditional to send de l Stella.

[Singing Italian] Who's this?

Well, this is a pictur of my mother, Gilda.

That's your great grandma.

And I guess I was abou five years old.

We went to Big town.

It was really exciting for m because we took a bus.

Frank's grandmother, Carmel Polito, was born in Italy.

She is the preserve of tradition, the teller of stories.

She passes on to Frank, a stor her grandmother told her the story of La Bafana.

I'll tell you the story of La Be Fonda the wa my grandmother told me.

It seems that the three wise me were traveling to find the Christ child.

They wanted to adore him and they asked this old woman if she knew the way or i she could give them directions.

But she was busy cleanin and she couldn't even be bothered talking to the after they left.

She reflected, and she though I should go with them.

So she went into the house.

She got a basket, sh put some food for the journey and little trinket for the Christ child.

And she said she went on her wa to catch up with the three wise men, bu she never did catch up with him.

But in the meantime she saw people who were needy.

So she gave the some of the food she had in the basket.

And she saw little children and she gave them the little toys that she had intende to give to the Christ child.

So that's how the story o La Be Fonda started!

As in most Italian villages, Christmas was centere in and on the church.

The church is the one that go all the decorations.

They had the beautifu nativity set, which we call precipio.

The one that w showed you in Carnegie Museum.

That beautiful Neapolitan.

Well, that's wha we used to have in our church.

And our priest and his helper would set it all up.

And of course, the most prominen thing was an activity scene.

No, two generations later and a thousand miles away from the little villag where his grandmother was born.

Frank sets up the famil precipio.

[Singing Italian] [Music Plays] Pittsburg dresses up for the holidays.

The Tree at horns has bee hugging the same corner since 1953.

And there are other trees downtown.

Outdoor trees!

Indoor trees!

And at night there are trees with lights.

There's also a nighttim tradition just beginning in Highland Par at the Pittsburgh Zoo.

Kids and their families ca wander through the zoo grounds and see the animal in a new light.

[Music Plays] Night time is also the perfect time for caroling.

[Children Singing Carols] It means good health.

It's an old English traditio from the time when people opened their door and invited strangers inside to warm themselves by the fir and drink from the wassail bowl.

[Door Opens] [Singing (♪) It's a help to the town!

And toward the tale Bring gods and our master of good cast our ale!

Our good cast of ale as ever I can see In a war, say no more!

Will drank them to thee (♪♪) That spiri of goodwill and good health of giving.

Comes alive in Pittsburg at Christmas time.

That spirit even moves olde kids to think of younger kids.

Many of the local sororitie and fraternities take time awa from their studies to brave Pittsburgh's busy intersection and collect coins and dollars for the free care fund of Pittsburgh's Children' Hospital.

Children's Hospital.

Thank you very much.

Nice Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you.

This tradition of giving date way back to 1933, when the press old newsboys returned to the streets to sell papers and gave over $1,00 to Children's Hospital.

KDKA joined the effort in 194 on their telethon.

You usually see kid handing in the money they've collected fro their friends and neighbors.

Today the Children's Hospital Fund is the most successfu drive of its kind in the world.

[Music Plays] Sometimes, it's possibl to both give and receive.

That's been the case since 195 at the Pittsburgh School for the Blind in Oakland.

Here you can buy a tree and support the important service of the school.

Perhaps no singl purchase at Christmas is as importan as your Christmas tree.

And when it's a family decision it can take a little time.

First you look around.

Sure.

Take a close look at one that seems right.

Listen to the advice of the tree man.

Is this one just right?

Think about this one!

Well, maybe.

Yes I guess that's it!

Usually mom decides.

[Children Singing Carols] The giving at Christma is not all dollars and cents.

There's also the gift of song.

Christmas is the time of yea when young singers forgo the warmth of their homes to bring that gif to the homes of others.

(♪) Christmas is coming!

The ghost is getting fat!

Christmas is coming!

The ghost is getting fat!

Christmas is coming The ghost is getting fat!

Please put a penny in the old man' hat!

Please put a penny in the old man' hat!

Please put a penny in the old man' hat!

Please put a penny in the old man' hat!

Please put a penny in the old man' hat!

Christmas is coming The ghost is getting fat!

Please put a penny in the old man' hat!

Please put a penny in the old man' hat!

Please put a penny in the old man' hat!

If you haven't got a penny then God bless you.

If you haven't got a penny then God bless you.

If you haven't got a penny then God bless you.

Then God!

Bless!

You (♪♪) [Music Plays] The Carnegie in Oakland is a particularly busy plac before Christmas.

Most of us can remembe unloading from the school bus and filing through the immens entranceway.

And inside were the biggest tree we'd ever seen.

Some over 20ft tall.

Ther was a different theme each year, something we were sure to like.

[Music Plays] And if the trees weren' exciting enough for us, there was another visual treat in the Hall of Architectur at the Carnegie.

The Neapolitan pricepi or manger scene.

It was made by Italian artist over 200 years ago and is delighted u each Christmas since 1957.

The scene is alive with activity 88 human figures, 29 animals.

We looked at the animal and we wondered, did the oxen really kneel?

Did the animals really talk?

And we thought about the donkey.

Still remembere 2000 years later for carrying Mary to Bethlehem.

[Singing] (♪) Donkey riding over the bumpy road carry Mary off with heavy load Follow Joseph Feeling you on your wa until you find a stable!

So much our sincere!

Donkey riding over the bumpy road carry Mary.

All with a heavy All with a heavy, All with a heavy load!

Donkey waking!

Donkey waking All over the pretty day!

See on moonlight!

Shining with bright disgray!

show the raking showing us with horray!

Joy with wanting!

Donkey waking!

Donkey waking All over the pretty day See on moonlight!

Shining!

Shining!

Shining!

Shining!

Shining with brightes green!

Dont they see for giants that are at bay!

Dont they know tha Jesus was born today!

Gods all dancing around the Christmas Tree!

As they say that they ar all sincere!

Say he as holy as he Dont be deceitful Joy is on your way!

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Christ is born today (♪♪) [Music Plays If we had more tim at the Carnegie, our parents took us upstairs to see the painting that they told us.

Reveale the true meaning of Christmas.

[Singing Holiday Opera] In school we were often asked to draw or paint picture of this special season.

Some of the ar retold the familiar story of what happened in Bethlehe on the first Christmas.

A lot of it was about thi gentleman, Santa Claus!

The Santas came in all shapes and sizes.

Santa is bigger than the tree!

Santas round as pumpkins!

Santas with hands up!

Sant squeezing down the chimney.

And satisfying through the sky.

We also drew a lot of trees.

It wasn't too har once you got the hang of it.

As a reminder to our parents, we made sure there were alway plenty of presents underneath and stockings on mantelpiece.

Mom and dad Tate these works of art to the refrigerato where they stayed.

Sometimes till spring.

The holiday flower show at Phipp Conservatory in Schenley Park has been a Pittsburgh traditio for over 100 years.

It's always been a great plac for the family to get away from the hectic pac of the holidays, to stroll around leisurely and marvele at the beauty of the flowers.

The floral display and beautifully designed spaces are gorgeous, orderly and elegant classical!

[Music Plays] Phipps Conservatory opened to the public in 1893 and hasn't changed too muc over the course of the years.

When our schoo or our parents took us there, we enjoyed the flowers.

They were pretty, but we also like just being inside the big glas building.

There was a room full of prickl cactus, cacti.

We learned was the plural.

And if you wandered off alone down the narro lanes of the Palm Court.

It was kind of scary.

But there were plenty of peopl there during the holidays.

And tucked into the trees an among the shrubs and flowers, there were plenty of neat thing to see.

[Music Plays] If, when we were young, it was the fu that brought us to Phipps.

What brings us back yea after year is the pure beauty of the flowers.

[Music Plays] In the glow of candlelight, we gather together on Christma Eve to celebrate the night long ago when angels appeared in a star.

Stood still in the heavens.

That holy night that made al of our Christmases possible.

[Singing (♪) Angels we have heard on high, Sweetly singing o'er the plains, And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing.

Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn Kin Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Gloria in excelsis Deo (♪♪) [Music Plays] (♪) Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright.

Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child, Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night, Son of God, loves pure light.

Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth Silent night, holy night, Ooooooooooh (♪♪) [Music Plays] [Singing Holiday Opera] Christ The Lord!

[Music Plays] [Singing] (♪) Donkey riding over the bumpy road open the people care about me carry Mary off with heavy load oh with heavy load 4007.

Follow Joseph Feeling you on your wa until you find a In you on your way until yo for us, for someone, for us.

stable!

So much our sincere!

And say all year round.

Donkey riding over the bumpy road carry Mary.

All with a heavy All with a heavy, All with a heavy load!

The way it Donkey waking!

Donkey waking All over the pretty day!

See on moonlight!

Shining with bright disgray!

We are to hold on show the raking showing us with horray!

Joy with wanting!

Donkey waking!

Donkey waking All over the pretty day See on moonlight!

Shining!

Shining!

Shining!

Shining!

Shining with brightes green!

Dont they see for giants that are at bay!

Dont they know tha Jesus was born today!

Gods all dancing around the Christmas Tree!

As they say that they ar all sincere!

Say he as holy as he Dont be deceitful Joy is on your way!

Hallelujah!

Oh, there you go.

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Christ is born today (♪♪) [Music Plays] A Child's Christma in Pittsburgh has been made possible by contribution from viewers like you.