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Pumpkins are used world wide as a symbol for Halloween, thanksgiving, and all things autumn. Where did the use of pumpkins as Halloween culture begin? After all, the carving of a pumpkin and lighting a candle inside for a festive jack-o-lantern has become such a tradition that the orange member of the squash family is somewhat a celebrity.The Chinese culture refer to pumpkins as " Emperor of the Garden." Impressive title for a fruit that gets a face carved into it once a year.

Pumpkin seeds, which are rich in many vitamins such as phosphorous, niacin, and iron, were once used by the Indian culture for medicine treatments. Jacques Cartier spoke of "gros melons" in 1584, later translated into the English version "pumpkin." Pumpkins can be made into pie, cookies, soup, even canned for future use. Pagan festivals may have included pumpkins in their feasts of rich food and rough brews done in a melodramatic manner to please their gods and goddesses.

Carving pumpkins into the gruesome or silly faces of a jack-o-lantern was adapted from the old British practice of carving out turnips to make lanterns. There is also a bit of folklore surrounding the term "Jack-O-Lantern." It originates from an old Irish lore about a man named " Stingy Jack." The tale involves Jack making deal after deal with the devil, tricking him with the temptation of the man's soul, only to wind up being tricked himself by the prankster.After Jack died, he wasn't allowed into heaven so the devil got revenge by not allowing Jack into hell. He's roamed for all eternity, with only a burning coal inside a turnip to light his way.

Whether it's the many ways to prepare and eat pumpkins or their seeds ( roasted is delicious), foodies are also huge fans of Big Orange. In addition to their food fans, pop culture buffs are softies for pumpkins. Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanut gang center one particular Halloween on the existence of " The Great Pumpkin." As Linus said it best, " I believe in the Great Pumpkin." So do we, Linus. So do we.

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