Remember when Halloween meant putting on a costume, knocking on your neighbors' doors, and trying to collect enough candy to last until Christmas?

Well, times have changed. Apparently, adults have decided Halloween isn't just for kids anymore. And honestly, if somebody wants to give us a day off work, we're not exactly going to argue.

A new annual poll found that 70% of Americans believe Halloween is just as much for adults as it is for children, up from 62% last year. Even more parents agree, with 81% saying grown-ups deserve to enjoy the holiday, too.

Here in Michigan, we've already got plenty of reasons to celebrate in late October. The leaves are changing, the cider mills are busy, and there's a decent chance we're wearing a winter coat over a Halloween costume. Why shouldn't adults get in on the fun?

Should Halloween Be a National Holiday?

Apparently, a lot of people think so.

The poll found that 58% of Americans believe Halloween should become a national holiday, right alongside Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Christmas.

And Gen Z is especially enthusiastic about the idea, with 78% supporting a national Halloween holiday.

Imagine the possibilities. No work, no school, no pretending you're paying attention during a meeting while secretly planning your costume. Just a full day dedicated to spooky decorations, haunted houses, horror movies, and eating candy you bought specifically for the trick-or-treaters.

Although, let's be honest. If Halloween became a paid day off, some of us would still spend half the day trying to decide what to wear.

Halloween Is Becoming America's Favorite Holiday

Here's another surprise: 53% of people in the poll said Halloween is their favorite holiday. According to the survey, that's the first time the percentage has topped 50%.

Sorry, Christmas. It looks like the skeletons, pumpkins, and inflatable lawn ghosts are making a serious run for the top spot.

Michigan has a pretty good case for Halloween greatness. We've got pumpkin patches, cider mills, corn mazes, haunted attractions, spooky small towns, and enough unpredictable October weather to make every outdoor costume party an adventure.

Nothing says Halloween in Michigan quite like dressing as a vampire and having to wear a puffy winter jacket over your cape.

Adults Want Their OWN Halloween Night

Here's where things get interesting.

The poll found that 62% of Americans believe adults deserve their own Halloween night, separate from the kids. That's up from 54% last year.

Apparently, some grown-ups are tired of sharing the spooky season.

And you can understand the appeal. Adults want to enjoy haunted houses without worrying about bedtime, attend costume parties without having to supervise a tiny superhero, and eat candy without pretending it's all for the neighborhood children.

But an entire separate Halloween night? What would we call it? Halloween After Dark? Grown-Up Ghoul Night? Trick-or-Drink?

Michigan bars and restaurants might already be working on the marketing.

Of course, we might need to clarify the rules. Do adults get their own candy, too? And if a grown-up shows up at your door wearing a convincing costume, are you allowed to give them a fun-size candy bar without asking how old they are?

These are the important questions nobody in Washington seems to be addressing.

The Michigan Halloween Compromise

Maybe we don't need to choose between kids and adults. Let the kids have their trick-or-treating hours, then let the grown-ups enjoy costume parties, scary movies, haunted houses, and whatever candy is left over.

Everybody wins, and nobody has to fight over the last Reese's peanut butter cup.

And if Halloween ever does become a national holiday, Michigan should probably get an extra hour to celebrate. We have to account for the time it takes to scrape frost off the car, find the missing costume pieces, and decide whether it's too cold to wear the outfit we spent three weeks putting together.