In the 1977 Christmas special, one side of Trolley’s banner read “Merry Christmas.”
The banner appeared on the roof of Trolley during Christmastime with Mister Rogers, the prime-time special that first aired on December 20, 1977. Its other side said “Happy Hannukah,” allowing the prop to acknowledge two holiday greetings as Trolley moved through the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.
That two-sided detail is easy to miss because the banner’s wording depends on which side of Trolley is visible. It also explains why “Season’s Greetings” may sound plausible as an answer, even though it is not the wording identified for the special. “Peace on Earth” and “Happy New Year” likewise fit a general holiday theme but do not appear on this banner.
The Christmas special was unusual in other ways, too. Rogers walked through a real neighborhood in the opening rather than using the usual model-neighborhood opening, and the program returned to television each Christmas season through 1982.