The day before Christmas finds the Burgess family busy with preparations and poignantly aware that this is the first year the members of the family will not be together; son Johnny is in Chicago and Grandpa had died last summer. But the Burgesses do not feel sorry for themselves; they realize how happy and well off they are. In humorous and touching scenes we see sixteen year-old Julie falling in love for the first time; eighteen year-old Emily receiving a proposal of marriage; twelve year-old Janet learning the real meaning of Christmas.