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Original Airdate: 12/11/98
Holiday time at the Camdens' brings about the usual merriment and we find Annie and Ruthie in the kitchen baking Christmas cookies in their own way - namely dancing. Ruthie tried her hands at the sprinkles when Simon wanders in wearing way too-tight candy cane pajamas and tries to show them what dancing really is. Ruthie notices his attire and simply exclaims "nice duds." Annie says he might be getting too big for those, but Simon protests that they don't make them in his size anymore. He says you can't fault a guy for keeping tradition. Mary and Lucy then enter, saying how Eric is out of control since they have to volunteer their time with different activities. Annie then tells Matt that his father wants to see him in the garage. Matt goes out to find his dad going through an old box of 45-RPM records. He tells Matt he found him a job being Santa Claus at the mall. Since Matt needs some money to go to a party, he accepts.The next day, Annie is making slips of paper so everybody can pick their "secret Santa" out of a bowl. Of course she and Eric have a plan that never fails to get them to pick each other. The kids come down and pick the names out of the bowl. They have to make something or give something they own. The doorbell rings and Lucy goes to find Jordan who gives him a gift to only be opened on Christmas. Lucy is surprised since she thought they decided not to give anything to each other until he gets back from his trip.
Eric takes Mary to the soup kitchen where she is going to be volunteering. She protests going in, but later she sees another guy, Carlos , working there, and she quickly changes her mind. Eric comes home, and puts the Christmas lights away, all the while listening to Simon protest about hanging the lights. Eric gives in, and allows Simon to hang the outside lights inside. Simon is delighted to keep the light tradition alive. As he is going through the lights, Ruthie grills him on Santa Claus on how he goes to so many places and never gets lost. Matt arrives at his job as Santa at the mall, and gets the business from the elf.
Mary invites Carlos to stay in the garage since he doesn't have a place to stay. Annie and Eric agree and are more than glad to help him out. Eric grills him about his family whom Carlos says is in New York. He says he has big irreconcilable differences with his father. Matt's girlfriend takes Ruthie to the Christmas tree lot, and begs to go to the mall to see Santa. Meanwhile, on the phone, Eric calls the local pawnshop to talk about pawning his 45s so he can get money to buy Annie a chain for her cross. Not being able to stand it anymore, Mary tears open the gift from Jordan and finds a shoeshine kit. Lucy is in disbelief until she sees it for herself. Annie takes off on her errand, going to the same pawnshop Eric called. She pawns her mother's cross for an old jukebox for Eric's 45s. Ruthie talks Matt's girlfriend into going to the mall, where Ruthie pulls Matt's beard down when she realizes her own brother is posing as Santa.
In the living room, Simon and Carlos have put the lights all around the walls. He tells Carlos that sooner or later, his parents will find out why he really isn't home for Christmas. Ruthie arrives at the church to audition for the Christmas Pageant. Eric finally arrives at the pawnshop with his 45s and explains why he is selling them. The pawn shop owner doesn't let on that Annie just pawned the very cross he was selling his records for a chain for. Annie and Carlos talk about what Christmas is all about, when Matt and Ruthie run in. Matt tells his mom Ruthie got him fired, and Ruthie says Christmas is ruined forever.
Matt and his girlfriend go out for a drive, where she has him stop near a fountain. He takes her in his arms and the two dance in the darkness. He tells her he feels bad they aren't going to the charity ball, but nothing could be better than how it is right now. The next day, Jordan calls and explains that his uncle's monkey just opened her gift,. and the shoe shine kit was for the monkey. She was supposed to get the basketball from his winning game... and that he loves her. Carlos writes a note saying goodbye to Mary - he is going to go see his family.
Time is running out, and Simon still hasn't found anything to give Ruthie for Christmas. Simon sits down and prays to God, saying it's been a while since he's begged for something. He asks God to help him convince Ruthie to believe in Santa Claus again. Christmas Eve comes, and the Camdens' all gather near the fireplace to exchange their gifts. Simon tells Ruthie her present isn't here yet, but he gives her his candy cane pajamas. She says it's about time. Matt gives Simon his present, which happens to be a $50 bill - paying him at least some of the money he owes him. Simon says to just call it even. Mary's gift to Lucy was the phone call from Jordan. Lucy gives Mary her present: Lucy volunteers to volunteer at the soup kitchen for three months. Ruthie gives Matt a picture of her finding out he's Santa… then she pulls out his real gift: a pair of fuzzy dice made out of her stuffed animal. Eric goes next and gives her the chain for her cross. She can't believe that he has done this, especially since she pawned the cross that it was for. Annie then points to the curtain, where Eric finds his gift: the jukebox. Although they don't tell each other what happened, they seem to know the sacrifices for each other ended up making their gifts somewhat unusable.
The next morning, Ruthie and Simon hear someone outside. They open the door and find the pawn shop owner dressed as Santa. He gives Simon and Ruthie presents for their mom and dad then runs off. Turns out the pawn shop owner gave Eric and Annie their gifts back. At the church, the Camdens are taking their place in the live nativity scene - as usual. As Ruthie gives her speech as the angel, Annie beams with happiness and we fade out on our family on this special day.