You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer sigh, we all know the rest.

Indeed, Virginia, Santa Claus exists, but the Christmas tunes of the season can often make you go from feeling festive to cringing with just a simple jingle.

Narrowing down the worst songs is quite a task, and picking the most irritating ones is very much a matter of personal opinion.

While many hastily criticize “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” understanding this song is complex. Yes, it has several uncomfortable elements in the Oscar-winning duet, originally performed by Dean Martin and Marilyn Maxwell and covered by countless artists. Still, when you consider that songwriter Frank Loesser wrote it to playfully encourage his guests to leave a housewarming party, perhaps those calling for its cancellation should pause for reflection.

Another frequent contender for the worst list is Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmas Time.” Despite its inherently optimistic vibe and catchy melody, for some, its overly sentimental tone is a tough pill to swallow.

There are many more dreadful tunes to avoid. Here’s a rundown of the 10 worst Christmas songs.

10. NSYNC, ‘I Never Knew the Meaning of Christmas’

Christmas isn’t just about celebrating Christ’s birth, enjoying time with family, exchanging gifts, visiting Santa, or decorating with festive ornaments, right?

According to Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Lance Bass, and Joey Fatone in this NSYNC hit, the essence of Christmas revolves around … finding a girlfriend. Only once you realize “in all of the rush, I was missing so much” and come to understand “Girl, you made me finally see,” will you grasp the true spirit of the season.

9. Neil Diamond, ‘Cherry Cherry Christmas’

This song seems like it was conceived during a marketing brainstorming session. “Let’s see if Neil can mix some of his classic song titles into a Christmas theme.” “Great! His fans will love it!”

Some might have enjoyed it. While Diamond undeniably holds a significant spot in music history, this track is painful for entirely the wrong reasons.

8. The Killers, ‘Don’t Shoot Me Santa’

This song raises the question: “What were they thinking when they recorded this?”

It’s as if the band is playing a prank on listeners. The odd dialogue between lead singer Brandon Flowers (“Don’t shoot me, Santa Claus, I’ve been a good boy, I swear”) and Santa (“The party’s over, kid, I’ve got a bullet in my gun”), mixed with a sluggish beat that suddenly bursts into a catchy chorus before unexpectedly dropping back down, makes for a bewildering experience. The accompanying music video, featuring a sinister Santa threatening Flowers in the desert, only adds to the confusion.

This might have been meant to be humorous, but sometimes, as Katy Perry learned this year, dark humor can simply miss the mark.

7. The Pussycat Dolls, ‘Santa Baby’

Only two versions of this song are truly acceptable: Eartha Kitt’s classic and Madonna’s cover. The Pussycat Dolls’ attempt at this song, aiming for sultry and lavish, instead comes across as dull and lifeless, reminiscent of a mediocre karaoke performance at a holiday office party.

6. Lou Monte, ‘Dominick the Donkey’

The artist who brought us “Pepino the Italian Mouse” tries to charm us with a singing Christmas donkey helping Santa deliver gifts (“made in Brooklyn,” of course). Dominick wisely keeps his dialogue at a minimum, mostly repeating “la la la,” since Monte, along with songwriters Ray Allen, Sam Saltzberg, and Wandra Merrell—yes, it took three people to create this nonsense—seem more focused on mimicking a catchy tune than crafting coherent lyrics.

5. New Kids on the Block, ‘Funky Funky Xmas’

If you survive the opening 12 seconds of peculiar “ho ho ho” sounds that seem to aim for a Santa voice, you have certainly endured more than necessary.

Featured on their 1989 album “Merry, Merry Christmas,” this song is a product of its time and an obvious cash grab, similar to NSYNC’s efforts. Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, Danny Wood, and Jonathan and Jordan Knight rap over an annoying electronic beat, reminiscent of a less talented group trying to channel the Beastie Boys. Meanwhile, James Brown must be rolling in his grave at the absurdity of this being labeled “funky.”

4. Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, ‘The Little Drummer Boy’

There aren’t many ways to ruin a simple ballad that only requires a snare drum, but somehow the Simpson sisters in 2004 managed to do just that.

The combination of a dripping string arrangement and oddly positioned horns doesn’t do any favors. And that’s before the track veers off into an out-of-place gallop, only to return to the duo who draw out each syllable of the song as if their lives depended on it.

3. NewSong, ‘The Christmas Shoes’

Let’s face it, even the biggest grinch among us can’t really criticize a song that aims to convey the holiday spirit through the narrative of a young boy desperate to buy his ailing mother a pair of shoes for Christmas. Unfortunately, he lacks the funds and turns to a stranger in line at the shoe store for assistance.

Oh, wait. Yes, we can.

2. Elmo and Patsy, ‘Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer’

The story of an elderly woman meeting her fate due to Rudolph after indulging in too much eggnog and forgetting her medication might elicit a giggle from a 6-year-old. However, doesn’t it seem a tad, well, harsh? And let’s not overlook grandma’s terrible husband, who, in the wake of her premature passing, resorts to “drinking beer and playing cards” with cousin Mel.

Add to that some truly poor singing, and you’ve got a novelty song that’s hard to endure.

1. Alvin and the Chipmunks, ‘The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)’

Talk about a painful experience.

Is there a Christmas track more shrill than this? Can anything be more irritating than the high-pitched “harmonies” of Simon, Alvin, and Theodore? Even dogs howling out Christmas tunes sound like skilled performers compared to this trio. It’s astonishing that the Grammy Awards survived after this cringe-worthy number was nominated for record of the year at the inaugural ceremony in 1959 (it didn’t win that year, but it did take home three other Grammys).

This might just be the only instance where I’ve ever wished harm upon a charming woodland creature, animated or otherwise.