Saving Christmas

Kirk Cameron speaks directly to the audience from beside the fireplace, declaring his love of Christmas and critiquing how the holiday is celebrated today. He asserts that atheists have tried to take Christmas away and that Santa Claus is connected to Christianity. He also condemns fundamentalists who politicize the holiday by tying it to Pagan elements and materialism.

The framing ends and the main narrative begins as Cameron attends a Christmas party at his sister's house. He notices his brother-in-law Christian isn't celebrating in the same way as the others. Christian explains he feels Christmas has become too commercial and contains Pagan elements that bother him.

Cameron tells Christian that he is wrong and proceeds to recite the Nativity story. The tale is depicted in cartoon form within the film, underscoring his argument about the holiday's Christian roots. This moment reframes the party's discussion around religious history.

Christian questions elements like Christmas trees that he argues are not biblical in origin. Cameron asserts that Christmas trees were God's idea and that each tree represents a Christian cross. He even encourages the audience to visualize a cross every time they see a tree.

Cameron ties the Nativity directly to the crucifixion, claiming that baby Jesus' swaddling cloth foreshadows his burial shroud. He also claims that frankincense and myrrh were used to treat dead bodies in primitive embalming. The discussion deepens the spiritual significance of Christmas for the party.

Cameron suggests placing nutcracker dolls around Nativity sets to symbolize Herod's soldiers during the Massacre of the Innocents. This visual cue is used to connect the Nativity scene to ongoing conflict in the biblical narrative. The idea is presented as a playful yet pointed teaching device.

Christian is reassured about Christmas' Christian roots but worries that Santa has replaced Jesus as the figurehead of the holiday. He notes that 'Santa' is an anagram of 'Satan'. Cameron then recounts Saint Nicholas, including an improvised Council of Nicaea reenactment in which Nicholas confronts Arius. He claims Nicholas attacked heresy and that 'Nicholas was bad, in a good way'.

With the history lesson complete, Cameron and Christian return to the party. Cameron argues that since God took on material form, it is fitting to celebrate with material gifts that symbolize God's gifts to humanity. He explains that presents represent Jerusalem, and that Christmas is essentially 'doing what God does'.

Christian, as a gift to his wife, organizes a hip hop dance to celebrate Christmas, set to 'Angels We Have Heard on High'. Cameron, Christian, and the guests perform an extended breakdance in the living room. The sequence blends sacred meaning with contemporary celebration.

The breakdance sequence features many party guests joining in, creating a lively, communal celebration. The dance is framed as a modern expression of Christmas that still anchors to its Christian message. The performance acts as a centerpiece of the party.

Cameron urges everyone to feast and arrange the best dinner possible for Christmas. He repeatedly reminds them that the celebration is about God and his gifts. This final exhortation reinforces the film's central message.

After the festivities, the film closes with a call to make Christmas overtly religious again for the sake of children. The framing narration circles back to the fireplace setting, echoing the opening plea. The audience is invited to carry the film's message into their own holiday celebrations.