Mister Rogers greets several of his neighbors as he walks through his Neighborhood. Mr. McFeely gives him a box. Mister Rogers finds a new pair of sneakers — just what he needed — and a Christmas card from the McFeelys. Thankful for the gift from his friends, Mister Rogers talks about his Christmas wish. Afterwards, he receives a phone call letting him know that Mr. McFeely will be stopping by. Mr. McFeely stops by on his way to the rehearsal for the holiday get-together. He mentions that Stephanie, a young girl who will be performing, is quite disappointed that her family may miss the get-together due to car trouble. Mister Rogers goes with Mr. McFeely to the rehearsal where Stephanie shares her disappointment with Mister Rogers. Stephanie joins Mister Rogers as he returns to his house where they talk about how hard it is to wait for things you are looking forward to. Mister Rogers opens a gift from a friend — a small banner that says, “Merry Christmas” on one side and “Happy Chanukah” on the other. Taking out a dreidel, Mister Rogers spends some time talking about Chanukah as he plays and sings the Dreidel Song.
In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, presents are not to be opened until King Friday gives his permission. Lady Elaine shares with Handyman Negri that she is upset that she has received only one present. When Mr. McFeely arrives with several packages to deliver, Lady Aberlin and Handyman Negri offer to help him. Lady Elaine finds that the others in the Neighborhood have received many more presents than she has, so she turns everything in the Neighborhood upside down — everything except the Music Man who is able to use his magic stick to keep himself right side up. Everything returns to normal when the Music Man gives Lady Elaine an ice-skating experience — a gift that does not need to be wrapped. When King Friday gives the word, presents are allowed to be opened throughout the Neighborhood — the first being a Christmas decoration for Lady Elaine put together in parts by all of her neighbors.
Back at the house, Mister Rogers talks about different family traditions — Christmas, Chanukah, and those who celebrate neither. He suggests that all presents are a sign of love. At the get-together, everyone sings as Stephanie prepares for her performance. She is overjoyed when her family arrives. Stephanie proudly performs her dance on the stage. Returning to the house, Mister Rogers concludes: “I, for one, wish you good memories of this holiday. And I hope you’ll be able to look for all the different ways that people have of showing that they love you.”
Mister Rogers shows a rubbing he made. He does rubbing of leaves he has brought and shows how each leaf is different. Mrs. McFeely stops by with a philodendron leaf. She invites Mister Rogers over to see a new little animal she has. Later, Mister Rogers explains what studying history is, and tells his own history. When Mister Rogers visits the McFeelys, Mr. McFeely shows Mister Rogers a fern. Mister Rogers makes a rubbing of McFeelys’ table. Mrs. McFeely has a reptile called a caiman. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Lady Elaine is convinced that she will fly to Jupiter by sitting on tree leaves. She sends Mrs. McFeely to get some. Francois Clemmons stops by with a lesson for X from the Owl Correspondence School.
Mister Rogers builds with blocks and plays with clay. He visits Brockett’s Bakery where Chef Brocket demonstrates how to make a lamb cake. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Lady Elaine is still pretending she will fly to Jupiter. Doctor Bill gives Lady Elaine a physical. Handyman Negri helps Lady Elaine with her space suit and oxygen tank. Lady Elaine has an isolation headquarters to stay in before flight tomorrow. Mister Rogers explains that Lady Elaine couldn’t hear in the isolation booth. Mister Rogers calls Francois Clemmons to ask him to be a voice teacher in the neighborhood.
Mister Rogers has a duck windmill which he demonstrates in the wind. Mr. McFeely brings a duck to Mister Rogers. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, King Friday has a statue of himself made which he expects Lady Elaine to take to Jupiter. King Friday is being demanding today. Lady Elaine is ready to take off for Jupiter. Everyone joins in the countdown, and she takes off on her ship made of leaves. The first phrase spoken by Lady Elaine after her launch: “This is one great leap for Make-Believe.” Mister Rogers visits Brown’s Marionette Theatre.
Mister Rogers plays with shells in his sand table while he talks about the beach. Francois Clemmons comes by to see the Browns to rent a room for giving voice lessons. Judy Brown invites Francois to sing for the marionettes. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, X pretends he’s Benjamin Franklin. Lady Elaine Fairchilde calls the Neighborhood of Make-Believe on a squawk box and sends back crayon pictures of what she is seeing in space. The pictures are of a sea shell and a peanut butter sandwich. Lady Elaine tells X that no one on Jupiter has heard of Benjamin Franklin, but she has told them all about X. X takes off his costume. Everyone tells X that it is he they like.
Mister Rogers makes a “Singing Studio” sign for Francois Clemmons. Mister Rogers talks about mouths. Mrs. McFeely comes by with a bird in a cage.In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, X and Lady Aberlin decorate the Museum-Go-Round for Lady Elaine’s return. Henrietta wonders if there are flowers on Jupiter. Lady Elaine reports that she plans to stay on Jupiter a while longer because she has found something great. Dr. Bill Platypus comes by playing his bag-pipes. Rumors spread through the neighborhood that Lady Elaine is going to marry someone from outer space. No one will listen to Lady Aberlin who explains that this is just a rumor. Mister Rogers explains that wishing doesn’t make things happen.
Watch full-length Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood programs. The first Monday of every month will feature programs from the early years 1968-1975. The third Monday of every month will feature programs from the “Theme Weeks” library 1979-2001.
Looking for more Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood episodes? Find them here:
