Plot Synopsis

Since he has always hated Christmas, the Grinch decides one Christmas Eve to dress as Santa and steal Christmas from the Whos by taking every present and decoration in Whoville, but when the giftless Whos wake up they sing carols, teaching him about the true meaning of Christmas. The Grinch is a hermit with a heart that is "two sizes too small," and he lives in a cave above Whoville. One Christmas Eve, he dresses as Santa Claus and descends on the town to steal every present and take every decoration, depriving the Whos of Christmas. On his first stop, Cindy Lou Who sees the Grinch taking the tree, but the Grinch assures her that he's only going to fix it and sends her off to bed. The rest of his night is without incident, and he returns to his cave with the stolen goods. When dawn breaks, he expects to hear the Whos wail because they have no gifts or decorations to celebrate Christmas; instead, he hears the Whos sing Christmas carols, proving that Christmas does not require material goods. Touched by the events, the Grinch returns the gifts and decorations, and helps the Whos celebrate.