If you find yourself depressed during the Christmas season you shouldn't be surprised or too worried about it — Christmas is not by its nature a time of unmitigated happiness.  The first Christmas began with “no room at the inn” and climaxed with the birth of a child who would grow up to be brutally murdered.  Christmas is a time to celebrate peace on earth and goodwill to men in the conspicuous absence of those things.  It's a kind of spiritual defiance.