Santa Claus awakens with a cold in early December. When a Christmas elf doctor sarcastically says that nobody cares about Christmas like they used to, Santa decides to forego his annual Christmas Eve journey. Hoping to change Santa's mind, Mrs. Claus instructs two elves named Jingle and Jangle to seek evidence of Christmas spirit.
Jingle and Jangle leave with Santa's youngest reindeer Vixen and land in a small town in the Southern United States called Southtown, loosely based on Oxford, Mississippi. Unfortunately, their efforts to find Christmas spirit are fruitless, and Vixen is detained by a dog catcher and taken to the local pound.
After learning that Vixen is missing, Santa travels to Southtown, disguised as a civilian named "Klaus". There, he meets a boy named Ignatius "Iggy" Thistlewhite and his family. After Santa leaves to rescue Vixen, Iggy realizes Santa's true identity and resolves to help the elves. Jingle, Jangle and Iggy visit the town's mayor, who agrees to release Vixen if they make it snow in Southtown.
Mrs. Claus collects the trio, and they ask Snow Miser, the keeper of cold weather, to dispatch snow to Southtown for a day. He says that he cannot oblige because Southtown is situated within his brother Heat Miser's domain. They approach Heat Miser, and he offers to cooperate if Snow Miser hands over the North Pole. When neither brother proves willing to cede to the other's wishes, Mrs. Claus tells them that she is going to have to "go over their heads". As Mrs. Claus leaves, Snow Miser and Heat Miser blame each other as Mrs. Claus is going to speak to their mother. When Iggy asks what Mrs. Claus means by that comment, Jingle and Jangle tell Iggy that they are going to go see Mother Nature.
Mrs. Claus' narration stated that she never interacted with Mother Nature before and noted how she did not want to be disturbed. At Mother Nature's house, Mrs. Claus consults with her about the situation. Summoning Snow Miser and Heat Miser to her, Mother Nature persuades her sons to reach a compromise or two where Snow Miser will let it snow in South Town and Heat Miser will allow one warm day at the North Pole.
As Christmas approaches, the children of the world send presents to Santa, generating international headlines. Touched by the outpouring of generosity, Santa decides to embark on his yuletide journey after all. Mrs. Claus remarks that "yearly, newly, faithfully and truly, somehow Santa Claus always comes".
