From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE – Today marks the day that has been unofficially noted as National Pumpkin Day. It is a day that falls annually on October 26.
So how did this “large melon” become favorited around the world? We have gathered a bit of history below:
The origination of pumpkins began nearly 9,000 years ago in North America and findings are based on scientist discovering seeds that date back to Mexico in 7,000 B.C.
According to the holidays calendar, pumpkin comes from the Greek word Pepõn, a word that means “Large Melon” and later transformed when it became a French word, then an English word and then finally into the American-English word “Pumpkin”.
History notes that the Native Americans grew pumpkins alongside river banks with beans and sunflowers before maize was officially developed as a crop. Native Americans then created a system of growing these squash with maize and beans called the “Three Sisters Method” which allowed each to benefit each other during growth. In addition, pumpkins and squash served as an important food staple helping them survive long winters.
Scholars believe that Christopher Columbus brought pumpkin seeds back to Europe and the Spanish during the 15th and 16th centuries. Many scholars believe that pumpkins were served during the second Thanksgiving in 1623.
Now that we know how pumpkins were discovered, how were they popularized as Jack-O-Lanterns?
Below are some fun, festive facts about pumpkins on this historical day of pumpkins:
- The largest pumpkin weighed 1,140 pounds;
- The largest pumpkin pie was 5-feet in diameter and weighed 350 pounds;
- The largest pumpkin pie used 80 pounds of cooked pumpkin, 12-dozen eggs and 36 pounds of sugar;
- The largest pumpkin pie took 6-hours to bake;
- Pumpkins contain Vitamin A and potassium;
- Pumpkins are 90% water.
So so enjoy this festive time carving a pumpkin, tasting pumpkin spice and everything nice at Trader Joe’s, or the famous pumpkin chunking celebrations that took place on this day. But most of all share with us your pumpkin pictures on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #NationalPumpkinDay.
Events:
Visit here for popular pumpkin patches across Alabama.