Pumpkin History
It's said that pumpkins originated in North America, yet seeds from related plants have been found in Mexico as far back as 7000 to 5500 B.C.
Pumpkins have been referenced in text dating centuries back, and the name "pumpkin," like so many of our english words actually originated from the Greek word "pepon" which means "large melon." Later the French changed the word "Pepon" to "pompon," Then the English changed "pompon" to "Pumpion," and eventually American colonists changed "pumpion" to "pumpkin," which of course we use still today.
The pumpkin has been used as a staple in the diet by many, including Native American Indians who used it even before the pilgrims landed. Indians would cook/roast strips of pumpkin on an open fire and eat them (sounds yummy, huh?). They also used dried strips of pumpkin for weaving to create mats. White settlers learned to grow and use pumpkins from the Native American Indians and the colorful vegetable soon became a staple of their diets as well. These early settlers used pumpkins in a wide variety of recipes ranging from soups, stews and of course desserts like the pumpkin pie. Oddly, the origin of pumpkin pie isn't what we all would think, and in fact its thought to have originated first when colonists sliced off the pumpkin top, removed the seeds, and then filled it with milk, honey and spices. So how did they actually bake this "pie"? Well, it's said that the pumpkin was actually cooked, or baked in the hot ashes of a dying fire.
Pumpkins & Halloween: The Birth of a Jack-O-Lantern
The origin of Halloween dates back at least 3,000 years to the Celtic celebration of Samhain (pronounced "sow-ain" or "sow-in"). This "Grand Harvest" festival was held starting at sundown on October 31st and lasted until sundown on November 1st and is also known as the Celtic New Year, which was celebrated then (and by some now) with about as much fanfare.
On this very magical night, glowing jack-o-lanterns, which then were carved from turnips or gourds, were set on porches and in windows to welcome deceased loved ones, light the way for lost souls on their journey to the afterlife, and also act as protection against malevolent spirits. Burning lumps of coal were used inside as a source of light inside these turnips or gourds, then later candles were used.
To correct some erroneous beliefs that Samhain was a name of some "Lord of the Dead", I want to mention that no historical evidence has ever been found to back up this claim. Halloween, or Samhain is simply the name of a celtic harvest festival and Samhain basically means "Summer's End." During these times of old a person's survivability relied heavily upon a good and plentiful harvest, so when the grand harvest time arrived it was celebrated for good reason. A good harvest means a winter with food. The spiritual aspect of this holiday, however, is a bit of a different issue. During this particular time of Samhian it was believed that the souls of the dead were closest to this world and was the best time to contact them to say fairwell, send messages or ask for assistance. Samhain was/is also referred to as "The Feast of the Dead" where people make an extra place at the grand harvest meal for the deceased loved one. Overall, Samhain is still treated in the manner of the old traditions somewhat today by those who practice Wicca or other nature based religions. Samhain, aka Halloween, has absolutely nothing to do with satan, who was a creation of the Christian church. Wiccans do not recognize any existence of "Satan."
Back to the Pumpkin... When European settlers, particularly the Irish, arrived in America they found the pumpkin to be larger and far easier to carve than gourds and turnips, hence the emergence of the carved Halloween jack-o-lantern. Halloween, the holiday, didn't really take hold in a big way in the US until around the late 1800's. It's since been a favorite holiday for many, especially for children, who dress in costumes resembling ghosts, skeletons, gouls, goblins, etc. and go from house to house seeking tricks or treats... can you seen the relationship between trick or treating and Samhain yet?
Death of a Tradition
With the risks posed to trick-or-treaters in our modern times, the practice of trick-or-treating is a dying tradition, and one that will be (and is) sorely missed. But the one thing that seems to prevail despite the empty streets and darkened porch lamps is the jack-0-lantern. Wether they're the real deal, or made from plastic or glass, the jack-o-lantern still shines every Halloween; a glowing reminder of times past and traditions lost.
