Theodora is the matriarch of a family group that has grown right into a bunch of truculent knuckleheads. While she’s finally got them all jointly in South Carolina to celebrate, this Christmas looks nothing beats the luxurious, homey holidays of her youth.

What happened to the days when Christmas meant tables groaning with home-cooked goodies, over-the-top adornments, and longer chats in front of the fire with Pearl, her grandmother’s beloved housekeeper and closest confidante?

Fortunately for Theodora, someone special who heard her plea for help arrives, with pockets filled with plenty of Gullah magic and good sense to create Theodora’s Christmas the love-filled miracle it’s meant to be.