Did you every wonder why pumpkins have become a symbol of fall or where Jack-o-Lanterns started? In this article I will review some fun history and facts about pumpkins and also share with you some of my fall photographs. Fall is my favorite season!
Pumpkins a Symbol of Autumn
A wonderful combination of traditions, history, folklore and the colors of the season joined together to make pumpkins a favorite symbol of the autumn season. Here is a bit of history of how this came to be a time-honored tradition in the USA.
- 1. Pumpkins were a harvest crop back to the days of early America. Indigenous people grew them and other winter squashes as an important food source. They were harvested in the fall and became a natural part of the autumn season.
- 2. The early American settlers learned about pumpkins and other native American foods and became familiar with their uses. They used them in pies, soups and other dishes. As harvest festivals and Thanksgiving traditions became part of the American scene the abundance of pumpkins in the fall harvest became part of the face of fall.
- 3. Halloween made pumpkins famous. The tradition of carving frightening faces originally came from Irish and Celtic folk customs involving turnips and other root vegetables. When Irish immigrants brought these practices to America they found that the pumpkin was more plentiful and easier to carve. Thus the Pumpkin Jack-O-Lantern was born.
4. Soon the pumpkins were seen everywhere for fall. By the 19th and 20th centuries they appeared at autumn celebrations, in advertising and on cards. Their bright orange color, their timing during the harvest season and all the traditions involving pumpkins have made them a favorite of the season. Now everywhere you look in the fall you see pumpkins. There is everything from pumpkin spice lattes to pumpkins in fall decorations and so much more.
Photography on Main Street St. Charles in the Fall
I recently took a photo shoot in downtown St. Charles to photograph all of the decorations along the store fronts. Here are a few of my photographs.
Pumpkins on Amazon
Amazon has lots to offer in the way of pumpkin decorations for fall. Here is a link to their page of pumpkins. Pumpkins for Fall
I have also written a review on fall decorations. Here is a link to that review.
Pumpkin based Foods
Sam is one of my fellow reviewers who has some delicious food recipes. Here are two that he wrote using pumpkins.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
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