I used to think I was alone in thinking that Christmas was terrible. It felt like there was a conspiracy of silence. Don’t talk about it, and it won’t be so bad. Don’t admit that you aren’t having a great time. Christmas was the elephant in the room.

It was like the Emperor’s New Clothes, but instead of clothes it was Christmas. Nobody wanted to admit that what they were experiencing wasn’t matching up to what everybody else said they were experiencing.

People are just now starting to talk about how hard the Christmas season can be. It has grown from a beautiful time where God has show how much we are loved by coming down to be with us, into a huge monstrosity where we spend all our money and energy and are worn out. It has grown into the exact opposite of what it was supposed to be.

Here are three things that let me know that I’m not the only one who is getting mixed signals about this time of year.

Barenaked Ladies Christmas album – “Barenaked for the Holidays” – It has Hanukkah and Christmas music done their way, and some manic bits about snow and murder.

Denis Leary’s “Merry F#%$kin Christmas” – 2005 TV special. Think Donny and Marie Osmond variety show, but done by a bitter New Yorker.

Augusten Burroughs’ “You Better Not Cry” – book. It makes your Christmas look like “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It is a collection of tales of horrible Christmases he’s had over the years. I find it cathartic and redemptive.