Christmas Eve on Sesame Street

The special opens with live-action versions of the Muppets at an ice skating party. They head home to Sesame Street while performing the song True Blue Miracle.

Oscar the Grouch plants seeds of doubt in Big Bird about whether Santa can actually get down chimneys to deliver presents. Big Bird becomes curious and worried about the idea, setting the stage for the rest of the holiday crisis.

Big Bird enlists Kermit the Frog and Grover to interview children about how Santa supposedly manages chimney descents. Their responses vary, with some kids offering practical ideas and others sounding skeptical.

Big Bird attempts a reenactment with Snuffy to demonstrate Santa's ability to descend chimneys, but the effort is unsuccessful. The failed reenactment underscores the confusion surrounding Santa's gift-giving methods.

Big Bird spends the night on the brownstone roof, waiting for Santa to appear in person. The cold night proves challenging, but he clings to hope that Santa will show up.

When the residents realize Big Bird is missing, Maria confronts Oscar for upsetting him. The confrontation triggers a turning point as the community reacts.

Oscar reveals that he was only teasing Big Bird and agrees to help search for him. His change of heart shifts the tone of the investigation and re-establishes Sesame Street camaraderie.

In a Gift of the Magi-inspired moment, Bert trades away his prized paper clip collection to buy a pink soap dish for Ernie's Rubber Duckie. The trade sets up the humorous reversal that characterizes their friendship.

Ernie trades away his Rubber Duckie to get Bert an empty cigar box. The swap continues the playful loop of sacrifices and misunderstandings that define their gifts.

Mr. Hooper, the store owner, realizes what is happening and returns their treasured possessions as Christmas presents. This act of generosity restores the gifts and adds a warm holiday note.

Cookie Monster tries to contact Santa and ends up chewing a pencil, then a typewriter, and finally a telephone while attempting to write a letter. The sequence highlights his determined but chaotic approach to delivering his cookies request.

At Gordon and Susan's apartment, he laments that he couldn't reach Santa. Gordon suggests leaving cookies for Santa.

Big Bird finds the presents under the tree and feels relief that Santa had come, even as Oscar teases him about the Easter Bunny. Gordon and Susan rebuke Oscar, reminding them all to focus on the holidays and their friends.

Big Bird realizes that being with family and friends matters more than solving the chimney mystery. The episode ends with Susan and Gordon returning home to find Cookie Monster has eaten the needles and decorations off their Christmas tree.