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October 24, 2021
When you first think of a pumpkin you think of pumpkin pie, jack-o-lanterns, and pumpkin spice lattes. But, did you know that a pumpkin is also a fruit?! I know- we usually think of it being a vegetable, but it is actually biologically a fruit. The pumpkin has a long line of history because it has been around for so long. So, let’s learn a little more about the pumpkin and how it has become something we know and love!
The pumpkin first got its name from the Greek word “pepon” which translates to “large melon”. In France the word for “pepon” was “pompon” which the English then changed to “pumpion”. From there, American colonists changed it to “pumpkin”. There are a variety of pumpkin species but the ones you typically see each fall for food and decoration is the C. maxima. Fun fact – canned pumpkin that is used in pies is C. moschata.
Archaeologists have found that the first pumpkin seeds can be traced back to the Oaxaca Highlands of Mexico over 7,500 years ago! Now, these pumpkins were slightly different than the pumpkins we know and love today. They were smaller with a very bitter taste. Interestingly, back then the pumpkin was used for its flesh- not for their seeds. Over time they became one of the first wild plants cultivated for human consumption in America. While it’s not confirmed, it’s very likely that pumpkins were included at the First Thanksgiving and enjoyed as a savory dish. One of the first pumpkin recipes out of the United States came from John Josselyn in 1672. It was a side dish and based on the description it sounds very similar to mashed sweet potatoes that we commonly eat now!
During the early 1800’s we start to see pumpkins being used as decoration for the fall. It started with jack-o-lanterns and then progressed to more and more décor options. However, jack-o-lanterns were first done in turnips. The carving of jack-o-lanterns originated in Iceland from an Irish myth about “Stingy Jack” who was someone who constantly teased the devil. Upon Stingy Jack’s death, the devil would not let him in but instead gave him a lump of burning coal and sent him on his way. Jack then put the coal into a hollowed-out turnip and began to roam the Earth with it guiding his way. As immigrants move to America, the tradition of carving jack-o-lanterns continued but they soon found out that pumpkins were much easier to carve than turnips. In the short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow we see a mysterious jack-o-lantern which is said to be why it’s now associated with Halloween. Halloween is most related to the Celtic festival of Samhain, which is observed on October 31st. It’s also said that the Celts believed that Stingy Jack roamed the earth on October 31st, which is another reason for jack-o-lanterns being seen on Halloween.
The 1800’s are also when pumpkin pies on Thanksgiving became popular. The traditions made back in the day have carried on and continued to grow into what we know and love today. Pumpkin spice lattes, largest pumpkin contests, and pumpkin candles are just a few things we know and love in the fall.
As we all know, pumpkin is not just for eating. It is a popular fall decoration that can be used throughout the house. It’s also a fun plant for children to grown on their own! At Petals & Pinot, we love to use pumpkins for all of these things! It’s a great fruit, vegetable, plant, whatever you want to call it! There are many uses for pumpkins, but our favorite is how we can use them as planters for flowers and succulents! Between the various shapes, colors, and sizes of pumpkins, they make for a gorgeous vase for a fall floral arrangement to sit in. What’s even better is- you can do it yourself too!
At Petals & Pinot, we specialize in BYOB floral design classes where we teach you how to create your very own floral arrangement. During our classes we will create an arrangement that you get to take home with you as well as teach you the skills and reasoning behind everything that we do when creating the arrangement. For our classes featuring pumpkins as the planter/vase, you’re in for a treat! This unique arrangement is one of our favorites and we hope it will be yours too! To see our upcoming floral arrangement classes, visit our website!