When Luther and Nora Krank’s daughter, Blair, flies away to South America to help people in need, the Kranks come up with the idea of skipping Christmas. They are tired of doing all the work, going out and buying expensive presents, putting the tree up, decorating their house with lights, and putting their big snowman up on the roof . The Kranks are not really friendly with their neighbors and are tired of hosting their annual Christmas gathering.  They do not think that it is necessary to inform their daughter that they have cancelled Christmas.  The Kranks decide to take a 10-day  cruise to the Caribbean.  Their cruise is scheduled to leave on Christmas morning.  They are all packed and ready to go when Blair phones on Christmas Eve. She says that she is at the Miami airport and will be home for Christmas.  She is traveling with her Peruvian fiancé. Blair wants to show him how Christmas is celebrated in America.

This story takes during the month of December in a home on Hemlock Street where the Kranks live. The main problem is that Blair and her fiancé are coming to celebrate Christmas.  This is a problem because it’s Christmas Eve and Nora and Luther are packed for a cruise.  They must go out to buy a Christmas tree, shop for presents, and prepare food for the holiday.  They need to decorate their house, and put the big snowman on the roof all in one day! This is very hard because  the stores are mobbed with last minute shoppers, they can’t find a decent tree, and everything is going wrong for them. . Blair is on the plane and her parents are still not ready.

The problem is solved when the neighbors volunteer to help out the Kranks.  They help them prepare for the Christmas party  and everyone attends.  One neighbor helps put the snowman on the roof and another finds a tree and decorates it beautifully.  The Kranks get it all together and Blair and her fiancé enjoy a wonderful Christmas celebration at home. Luther decides to give the cruise to a neighbor who is sick with cancer because it might be her last Christmas.

Luther learns that it is very important to celebrate Christmas every year with friends and family!