| abstract
| - Rather than the typical Do They Know It's Christmas Time? sort of Christmas Special or Christmas Episode, many series (primarily action cartoons) feature some sort of plot in which the protagonists must "save" Christmas (or their local equivalent) in some manner. Flavors of this plot, which can be mixed and matched with each other, include:
* Santa's Been Kidnapped! -- The heroes must rescue Santa; usually they gain friends along the way and teach the villain the True Meaning of Christmas!
* Sabotaging Saint Nick -- Some villain tries to sabotage Santa's operation (either by trashing his workshop or by abducting Santa), and it's up to the good guys to fix things. Said villain usually repents by the end, having learned the True Meaning of Christmas.
* Taking Over Christmas -- In this variation, the villain wants to become the guy the kids write to for presents, or perhaps just the source of said presents. This would leave Santa out in the cold, so to speak. Often the villain intends to make money off of the venture.
* Fake Ultimate Santa -- Someone's replaced good ol' Kris Kringle, and he's not so jolly. May overlap with the Bad Santa, except that the heroes have to get the original back.
* Santa's Sick! -- Santa is otherwise indisposed, and the heroes must try as best they can to substitute him. Can they measure up and lead the sleigh? An extreme take on this is that Santa is DEAD - such as in The Santa Clause.
* The Sleigh is Broke -- A variant has his sleigh, reindeer, or helper elves be damaged, sick, or on strike. The heroes have to help fix, cure, or replace them.
* Santa's in the Slammer -- Because Adults Are Useless, they caught Santa and put him in Jail! The kids have to help free him or clear his name.
* Santa's Origin -- Who was Santa before he became, well, Santa? These stories tell not just how, but why Santa took up the mantle, and the obstacles he overcame.
* Legacy Character Santa -- The job and title of Santa Claus is passed down over the ages, and it's time to pass the torch. It can be either a family member or a deserving stranger, but expect some drama in the process, with the future of Christmas at stake. If it's a stranger, they will be an adult who no longer believes in Santa and thus will need a lot of convincing.
* Visit the North Pole -- The kids don't believe in Santa, or want to make sure he gets their letter. They travel through an (thankfully) imaginary and short distance to the North Pole. They may even get to ride the sleigh!
* A variation (seldom seen these days) has characters visiting The Nativity (or a suspiciously similar incident) instead. Usually as a means to renew their dying faith, or as a way to get a Christmas Miracle.
* Santa Needs Children's Faith -- The unobtanium fueling Santa/his sleigh/the North Pole in general runs on children's faith in him, and it's running dangerously low! Santa has to bring the spirit of Christmas into the hearts of children.
* Santa's Test Of Character -- The heroes encounter a nice old man/suspicious character/crazy bum, he seems somewhat like Santa and/or repeatedly claims he is Santa. He eventually leaves and the truth is revealed that he wasn't Santa. Or was he?
* The Naughty and Nice Lists -- Alternatively, Santa might be disgruntled with humanity's naughtiness - especially greed and/or disbelief - and consider giving up on them and the holiday. The heroes have to convince him that Rousseau Was Right.
* Personal Santa -- The most mundane version, common in Sit Coms, involves financial problems or a minor disaster ruining the holiday celebrations on a personal or local level. Luckily, if the characters show the True Spirit Of Christmas, Santa (or a plausibly deniable representative thereof, see Secret Test of Character) will give everyone a special gift. Maybe not what they wanted, but what they need or deserve.
* Santa's Cousin, Twice Removed -- Take one of the above stories, but make the protagonist Mrs. Claus, the Elves, the Reindeer, his brother, son, daughter, (deep breath) or accountant. They usually start by having a crisis of faith (not in Santa, but their own utility) then the situation arises where they have to step up and help Santa a la Rudolph.
* Everyone's Naughty -- A person gets jealous of other people being Nice and not him/her, so he/she tricks Santa into thinking everyone's Naughty. The hero must prove to him that those people are nice. Sometimes the Mall Santa will be called in to help. Be careful though, because Bad Santa might take his place. Luckily Badass Santa will come to save the day! Compare An Asskicking Christmas. See also Subbing for Santa Examples of Saving Christmas include:
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