The story centres around 4 main characters: A Scottish pastor working as a stretcher-bearer; the French Lieutenant Audebert whose call to fight has meant leaving his bedbound pregnant wife, and 2 famous opera stars (the German tenor Nikolaus Sprink and his Danish lover Anna Sörensen). Christmas arrives, along with the snow, and bundles of presents from their famillies and the army head office. That night their lives are changed forever, randomly drawn together by Christmas spirit, they succeed in unifying the men. The French, Scottish and German soldiers put down their arms and go to meet their counterparts, shaking hands and even exchanging cigarettes for chocolate, they wish each other "un joyeux Noël", "Frohe Weihnachten", "Merry Christmas", and "Ĝojan Kristnaskon!".