Plot
Barbie tells the story to her little sister, Kelly, who is reluctant to go to a Christmas Eve charity ball instead of spending the holiday at home with their family.
Eden Starling is a glamorous, star soprano and owner of the Gads Hill Theatre in Victorian London, as well as an arrogant, self-centered diva with a deep hatred for Christmas. She is frequently accompanied by her snooty cat, Chuzzlewit. The theater's employees—a stage magician, Freddy (the film's version of Fred), twin ballerinas Ann and Nan, clown Maurice, and costume designer, Catherine Beadnell (the film's version of Bob Cratchit)—are reprimanded by Eden for their festive moods, and she declares that they are to work on Christmas Day, ruining their holiday plans. Catherine, who is Eden's childhood best friend, tries to convince her otherwise to no avail.
That night, Eden is visited by the ghost of her late Aunt Marie (the film's version of Jacob Marley), bound by the chains forged from her misdeeds in life. Marie warns Eden that her actions are leading her down the same path and suffer in the afterlife as she does. She tells Eden that she will be visited by three spirits in an attempt to help her change her ways over the course of three nights.
Eden is first visited by the cheerful Spirit of Christmas Past, who takes Eden back in time to her childhood. As a young girl, Eden was forced to study music under the domineering Aunt Marie with little rest. Eden secretly sneaks out of the house to celebrate Christmas with Catherine and her family. The festivities are interrupted at the arrival of an enraged Marie. After the incident, Eden was forbidden from celebrating Christmas and Marie further instilled her self-centered views into her niece.
Eden is visited next by the jolly Spirit of Christmas Present, who takes Eden to the theater where she learns of the other performers' disdain for her stinginess. The Spirit then shows Eden that Catherine is visiting a local orphanage. Catherine generously gifts them clothes and is particularly close to a crippled orphan named Tammy (the film's version of Tiny Tim). Eden's heart softens after witnessing the scene but becomes concerned when the owner tells Catherine that the orphanage will likely be closed due to a lack of funding.
Finally, Eden is visited by the mysterious yet kindly Spirit of Christmas Future. Eden is shocked to find her future self living in poverty. The Spirit explains that Eden had fired her employees, including Catherine, after they'd shown up late to work one Christmas. Afterwards, the acts hired by Eden to replace them failed to impress the audience, leading Eden to lose her fame and fortune. Eden then visits Catherine, who is now an accomplished fashion designer, at her new store for help. Catherine explains that after Eden fired her, she left the country to find work. Returning months later, her business was financially stable and ready to adopt Tammy, but Catherine was dismayed to find the orphanage had closed with the children, including Tammy, gone. Since that day, Catherine has become disillusioned with Christmas while focusing only on advancing her career, even adopting Eden's outlook on life and treating her workers cruelly. Catherine then refuses to aid the impoverished Eden and throws her out of her shop.
Horrified, Eden begs the spirits for another chance to redeem herself and alter the future; after which she awakens back in her bedroom on Christmas morning. Filled with newfound joy, Eden arrives at the theater and gives gifts to all her employees as well as allowing them to take the holiday off, which changes their outlook on her. At Eden's urging, Catherine takes her to the orphanage, which Eden promises to financially support. Freddy arrives with a carriage—which the spirits magically turn into a sleigh for it to move through the snow—and Catherine and Eden ride off with him to spend Christmas with Catherine's family. The orphans wave them goodbye, joined by the unseen ghost of Aunt Marie, now free of her chains.
The story instills Kelly with a new sense of generosity. Barbie's friend Nikki comes in to remind them they are late and Barbie and Kelly leave for the event to celebrate Christmas together.
