Rather than using their nutritional and readily available seeds, pre-Columbian natives grew pumpkins for their flesh. They were among the first crops grown for human consumption in North America. Thanks to their solid, thick flesh, pumpkins proved ideal for storing during cold weather and in times of scarcity.
What were pumpkins used for in colonial times?
Pumpkin Trivia
It used 80 pounds of cooked pumpkin, 36 pounds of sugar, 12 dozen eggs and took six hours to bake. In early colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for the crust of pies, not the filling. Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites.
What are pumpkins used for other than Halloween?
Pumpkin is used to make soups, desserts and breads, and many Americans include pumpkin pie in their Thanksgiving meals. Carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns is a popular Halloween tradition that originated hundreds of years ago in Ireland.
When were pumpkins first used for Halloween?
It is believed that the custom of making jack-o’-lanterns at Halloween time began in Ireland. In the 19th century, “turnips or mangel wurzels, hollowed out to act as lanterns and often carved with grotesque faces,” were used on Halloween in parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands.
Why are pumpkins Halloween history?
In Ireland, people started to carve demonic faces out of turnips to frighten away Jack’s wandering soul. When Irish immigrants moved to the U.S., they began carving jack-o’-lanterns from pumpkins, as these were native to the region.
What do Native Americans call pumpkins?
Long thought extinct, a native corn re-emerges
Pumpkins have long served as a staple in the diet of American Indians (the Abenaki word for pumpkin or squash is wasawa).
How did Native Americans cook pumpkins?
Both the seeds and flesh of the pumpkin are edible. American Indian tribes of the southwest scooped out the seeds, dried or roasted them, spiced them with chili powder and ate them with a mixture of nuts and dried fruit. The flesh was often cut into pieces and baked in ovens or directly over coals.
What do pumpkins symbolize?
Pumpkins are also one of the more resilient fruit, finding ways to grow large and bulging amongst sparse soil and sharing nutrients along a connected vine that reaches into the ground to replenish itself. It is perhaps for this reason that pumpkins have become symbols of prosperity, growth and abundance.
What was carved before the pumpkin?
Before we carved pumpkins, the Irish chiseled creepy faces onto turnips. Before we carved pumpkins, the Irish chiseled creepy faces onto turnips. Pumpkins with ghoulish faces and illuminated by candles are a sure sign of the Halloween season.
Are pumpkins indigenous to America?
Scientists believe that pumpkins originated in North America about 9000 years ago. The oldest pumpkin seeds have been found in Mexico and date back to somewhere between 7000-5550 B.C.. Pumpkins (along with other forms of squash) were a historically important food staple among Native Americans.
Do pumpkins ward off evil spirits?
They ward off evil spirits on Halloween, their juice is much loved by Harry Potter and his wizard friends, and one turned into a golden carriage to take Cinderella to the ball. The mythical properties of pumpkins are well known but science suggests there is more to the pumpkin than folklore, magic and fairy tale.
What does the O in jack o lantern mean?
The o’ in jack-o’-lantern is short for the word of. So the whole term is “Jack (of or with) the lantern.” The o’ is also used in the term o’clock.
Is Halloween a pagan holiday?
The word “Halloween” comes from All Hallows’ Eve and means “hallowed evening.” The history of Halloween back to a pagan festival called Samhain. Hundreds of years ago, people dressed up as saints and went door-to-door, which is the origin of Halloween costumes and trick-or-treating.
What pagan holiday is Halloween based on?
Samhain
Halloween may be a secular affair today, dominated by candy, costumes and trick-or-treating, but the holiday is rooted in an annual Celtic pagan festival called Samhain (pronounced “SAH- wane”) that was then appropriated by the early Catholic Church some 1,200 years ago.
What is the true meaning of Halloween?
Halloween, contraction of All Hallows’ Eve, a holiday observed on October 31, the evening before All Saints’ (or All Hallows’) Day. The celebration marks the day before the Western Christian feast of All Saints and initiates the season of Allhallowtide, which lasts three days and concludes with All Souls’ Day.
What was used for jack o lanterns before pumpkins?
The practice of decorating jack o’lanterns originated in Ireland, where they used large turnips, potatoes, or beets. Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, home of the pumpkin, and it became an integral part of Halloween festivities.
Do pumpkins grow in the wild?
Some groups, including the pepo subspecies that includes courgettes and pumpkins, seemingly went extinct in the wild. Others, like the fraterna subspecies, still exist in the wild but only in restricted regions.
Can you eat pumpkin pulp?
Turns out pumpkin guts are deeply flavorful and can also be used in any recipe that calls for chicken or vegetable broth. Sauté the pulp with diced onions and other vegetable scraps, then add water and let the mixture simmer for 30 to 60 minutes before straining.
What kind of squash did Iroquois grow?
This beautiful and delicious squash is the ancestor of the well known butternut squash. It still packs a delicious punch and is very versatile in the kitchen.
How was squash used by indigenous groups?
“Traditionally, Indigenous people didn’t use squash the way it’s used now by Western cultures. It would be dried and used as flour or broken off into pieces and eaten.” It didn’t spoil easily and would last throughout the winter season. Whole communities relied on strings of dried squash.
What does pumpkin mean in slang?
This is another largely American term of endearment, similar to ‘sweetheart’ or ‘darling’. In US slang, it can also refer to someone or something of importance. Pumpkin ultimately derives from the Greek word pepōn, meaning ‘ripe’, referring particularly a type of melon ripe enough to eat.
Justin Shelton is a professional cook. He’s been in the industry for over 10 years, and he loves nothing more than creating delicious dishes for others to enjoy. Justin has worked in some of the best kitchens in the country, and he’s always looking for new challenges and ways to improve his craft. When he’s not cooking, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He loves exploring new restaurants and trying out different cuisines.