The pumpkin does more than hold candles and act as a prop for Halloween frights. It is a source of income for farmers and a hearty ingredient used in different cultures.

• Native Americans have long been repurposing the pumpkin’s dried shell to weave into floor mats, make bowls and create musical instruments. Pumpkin flesh and seeds were important food sources for tribe members, who dried and preserved the gourd to sustain them through brutal winters. Once settlers colonized the New World, pumpkins were more readily incorporated into the American diet, either roasted or boiled, and then to Europe.
• The association of pumpkins and Thanksgiving arises from an abolitionist movement during the Civil War. When the first pumpkin pie recipe gained popularity as a New England specialty in 1876, female abolitionists connected the pumpkin to the anti-slavery cause as a symbol of the North’s family and farmer resiliency. When it was recognized with national importance in 1863, the women abolitionists encouraged President Lincoln to designate the fourth Thursday in November a national holiday. The pumpkin held pivotal power in the Civil War and the link between Thanksgiving and pumpkin pie, obviously, continues today.
• The term “jack-o’-lantern” originates from a traditional Irish myth. The name Jack comes from Stingy Jack, a legend who tricked the devil and in consequence, after his death was forced to roam the earth as a wandering soul. To prevent Jack’s spirt from entering their home, Irish people carved frightening faces out of turnips and placed them in front of their abode. As pumpkins became more available in the U.S., Irish immigrants transitioned to using the gourd instead of the root vegetable.
• Pumpkin cake, or nan gua bing, is a traditional Chinese holiday dessert marked by the vivid color of red pumpkin. The star ingredient of the dish is steamed, mixed and kneaded, then combined with glutinous rice flour, red bean paste and granulated sugar. Next, it is deep fried or pan fried into a cake. The deep-fried version is typically served at holidays because of its aesthetic appearance and crisp, yet fluffy, texture. These cakes, sweet, soft and sticky inside, are best served warm, right out of the oven.
• Pumpkins get their bright orange color from beta-carotene, an antioxidant the body converts into vitamin A, which is important for maintaining healthy vision and immunity. Also, the seeds contain high amounts of vitamin E, which helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. The nutrition-packed seeds can easily be roasted and enjoyed as a snack or salad topper.