National Pumpkin Day: Know all about pumpkin and its association with Halloween

National Pumpkin Day recognizes a popular autumn decoration and food on October 26. This day is celebrated in a number of ways across the world.

The pumpkin is associated with the month of October in general and Halloween specifically. The Halloween connection dates back to the 1800s. This is because of Halloween that the Irish and Scottish immigrants to the United States of America began carving pumpkins and referring to them as “Jack-O-Lanterns.”  

National Pumpkin Day: About Pumpkin  

The name pumpkin has been originated from the word pepon, which is in Greek for “large melon,” something round and large.

The pumpkins are widely cultivated for commercial use. They are used both in food and recreation.  

Pumpkin is an excellent source of provitamin A, beta-carotene, and vitamins A and C. A fresh pumpkin has water, carbohydrate, a few per cent of fat, and protein. Pumpkin seeds are a popular snack. Grocery stores often sell them both hulled and semi-hulled. They’re a good source of protein, magnesium, copper, and zinc.

 
National Pumpkin Day: About Halloween  

Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on October 31 to mark the eve of the Christian feast of All Hallows' Day (Feast of All Saints), observed in honour of all the saints of the church.  

On this day people wear costumes, serve each other “trick-or-treat”, and carve jack-o-lanterns.

Trick-or-treating is one of the popular traditions that is followed during the festival. Children dress up for the Halloween night by wearing costumes, ringing the doorbells in the neighbourhood, and demanding treats. This has been a tradition in the United States and among other Western countries for many centuries