Why Halloween comes in mind whenever we see a pumpkin or vice versa
Here’s the scoop on pumpkins and Halloween:
*Why Pumpkins?*
– Irish legend: Stingy Jack tricked the devil and used a turnip lantern to roam the earth.
– Americans said, “Hey, pumpkins are way easier to carve than turnips!”
*Pumpkin Symbolism:*
– Ward off evil spirits
– Celebrate harvest season
– Light beats darkness
*Nowadays:*
– Decorations galore!
– Jack-o’-lanterns (named after Stingy Jack)
– Fun fall activities: pick, carve, display!
That’s the pumpkin’s journey to Halloween stardom!
Some interesting pumpkin facts
– Pumpkins are usually orange but can sometimes be yellow, white, green or red.
– A member of the gourd family, which includes cucumbers, honeydew melons, cantaloupe, watermelons and zucchini.
– The name pumpkin comes from the Greek word ‘pepon’, meaning ‘large melon’.
– They vary in weight but an average sized pumpkin might weigh around 13 pounds (6 kilograms)
– Giant pumpkins can be grown for competitions, with some weighing over 1000 pounds! (450 kilograms).
– Pumpkins are popular decorations during Halloween. A carved pumpkin illuminated by candles is known as a ‘jack-o-lantern’.