What's Your Favorite Cold Weather Holiday?

Between the last day of October and the first day of January, Americans are treated to four widely celebrated holidays.

Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's (not to mention Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Winter Solstice Naked Bonfire Dance) couldn't be more different in origin and celebratory intent, but they all provide ample opportunity to stuff your face with food and make a drunken fool of yourself while surrounded by friends or family.

But which celebration is your favorite? We ask this question right before Thanksgiving in hopes that sentimentality concerning Mom's stuffing will encourage some of you to actually vote for our earnest Pilgrim holiday -- which lacks the gift accumulation and gravitas of Christmas, or the pure unadulterated expectation of a good time that is Halloween or New Year's.

After the jump we throw sugar highs, turkey, the Grinch and getting drunk into the ring to study the pros and cons of cold weather celebrations.

Halloween
This pagan celebration provides an almost unlimited supply of candy to the young, and an excuse for the not-as-young to throw parties full of sexy outfits and the uninhibited behavior that goes with pretending you are not who you are. Is there any other holiday so flexible and pure in its hedonism?

Drawbacks
It's the rare celebrated holiday that doesn't come with a day off from work. Also, with more and more adults participating in Halloween, does this mean we are going to be dressing up when we are 60? That would be sad.

Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving, and its message of appreciating what you have, has yet to be flogged mercilessly by materialism and greeting cards -- like another holiday about a month later that shall remain nameless. Plus, some people really do like (occasionally) visiting their families. And any holiday that incorporates football-watching into its tradition is A-OK.

Drawbacks
The turkey, the holiday's mascot, is an awkward, ugly bird with an unexciting taste. Cooking it in a huge vat of oil might liven up the fowl, but it also comes with the risk of burning down your neighborhood.

Christmas
Only a Grinch with a heart of stone doesn't feel good when surrounded by the lights and sounds of Christmas. Then there are the gifts. Who doesn't like getting stuff? Even a box of underwear from Aunt Shirley means you won't have to buy skivvies for yourself.

Drawbacks
Actually, the gifts are a double edged sword. Buying presents isn't so fun if you don't like shopping or if you're on a limited budget. When people talk of holiday season stress, there is a good chance Christmas-gift-giving anxiety is at the heart of it.

New Years Eve
It's hard to knock a celebration so focused around drinking and eventually finding someone to make out with.

Drawbacks
That being said, they don't call New Year's Eve amateur night for nothing. If you haven't given yourself completely over to the celebratory atmosphere, the whole thing can get pretty annoying.