O Tannenbaum is getting, gulp, canned this season.

A unique holiday display in a Whitehall yard may be the kind of display that our grandchildren will take for granted.

Those same grandchildren may also not experience the sweaty pleasures -- and stamped toes -- of the push and pull of holiday crowds at department stores. Almost all of tomorrow's shoppers will probably buy grandpa's tie online.

Grab a hold of the Ghost of Christmas Future's flashy coattails. We could be in for a bumpy ride. Here's what some residents predict for their kids -- and their kids' kids' -- holiday celebrating.

Hint: Think TransSiberian Orchestra meets George Jetson.

Instead of tossing empty cans into a recycling bin or, heaven forbid, throwing them in the garbage, Jim Berroth adopted a new "green" approach in dealing with holiday decorating at his Hamilton Road, Whitehall, home.

His six grandkids, already schooled in the necessity to recycle what once filled landfills, call the creative display" "Pap's pop can trees."

The German carol, " O Tannenbaum,'' or in its English version "O Christmas Tree,'' may never be the same.

Mr. Berroth, 72, fashions soda and other cans -- "mostly Pepsi, but some Miller Lites, too" into trees and other seasonal objects, then decorates them with garlands and lights.

He used more than 1,800 cans in constructing six trees -- one seven feet high -- one two-foot star and several candles of varying sizes.

All the decorations are glued together with liquid nail and mounted on wooden bases, then decorated with lights and glitzy garlands.

Mr. Berroth said he used more than 1,600 lights "mostly bought at garage sales" to put the pedal to the metal to make it all sparkle.

"The aluminum cans reflect and amplify the lights and garland," Mr. Berroth said.

The retired Sears salesman said he collected lots of cans from St. Gabriel Church, where he is an usher, and from the church's elementary school.

The display, he admitted, sometimes stops traffic in his neighborhood as visitors line up to snap photos and take notes.

He said the project keeps him busy in his basement workshop when he might otherwise be bored.

"My wife thinks I'm crazy, but I find it to be a very relaxing activity," he said.

His talented efforts were recognized last year by Whitehall officials who gave him and wife Lois special recognition for "the most creative display'' in that community's annual Christmas decorating contest.

The judges liked his futuristic idea so much that they have added a special category to the community's annual decorating contest.

"This is not only unique, it's needed'' Councilwoman Kathy DePuy said, of the display's green implications.

Other residents here have, if not soda can displays, at least ideas about how we will celebrate the holidays in the future.

Cody Lawler, 26 of West Mifflin, an engineer, said he thinks Christmas Future be all about saving money, fuel and avoiding crowds.

"We'll all do online shopping, not just some of us. It will save time and money and avoid getting stuck in traffic."

But Victoria Mageria, of Munhall, predicts the hustle and bustle will "get crazier than ever.''

The 17-year old senior at Serra Catholic advised: "Wait for the 'hover car.' My brother was telling me that they are developing hover cars, vehicles with four engines and mechanism to lift them off the ground,'' she said.

"This is what we will drive to do our Christmas shopping,'' she predicted.

Ronald Venturella, 65, a retiree from West Mifflin agreed that "lots of things will be different, especially our mode of transportation. If you remember the Jetsons television show, it will be similar to that,'' the retiree predicted.

Bob Brooks, 41, of White Oak, looks for "more and brighter lights and more synchronization to music'' in future holiday displays.

"Think videos and the TransSiberian Orchestra,'' the engineer said.

David Martin, 45, of Pleasant Hills, thinks that preparations will be a lot faster "because your Christmas cards will go through the television set,' he said.

"Lights will automatically project off a sensor in the front yard. There will be virtual holiday parties where everybody gets to talk and sing carols,'' forecasted Mr. Martin, a cyberschool educator.

Bobby Cannon, 16, of Munhall, also predicts big changes for holiday decorations. There will be technology to make it easier for you to install and store them, he said.

"Instead of having to get up on the roof there will be ways to get around that; and you will be able leave them there all year around yet not be noticed,'' he said.

But the more some things change, the more they will stay the same, predicts the 10th grader at Steel Valley High School.

"Santa Claus will never change; he can't. He's been around forever. He has to stay the same because we all like him the way he is,'' Bobby said.

Retiree Pat Sable, 55, of West Mifflin, agreed that technology will change things, but not the things that really matter.

"A virtual Christmas would allow us to enjoy each other's company because we'll be able to deliver our messages right into homes. We may not be there physically, but we'll get our greetings across.''

Still, "technology or not, said Mr. Sable, "nothing can change the reason for this season.''