"Packed with vitamins A and C, potassium and magnesium, the bright orange winter squash is not only a nutritional powerhouse but, with the arrival of the Irish, became synonymous with Halloween. The oldest pumpkin seeds date back to 7000-5500 B.C. in what is now Mexico, where Indigenous people cultivated the gourd as a vital food source during the long winter months. The tradition of carving pumpkins into "Jack-o'-lanterns" began when Irish immigrants arrived in the Americas."
"Spooky fact: "Jack-o'-lantern" comes from an old Irish folk tale about a man named Stingy Jack, who tricked the devil. When he died, he was condemned to wander the Earth for eternity, forbidden to enter Heaven or Hell. To light his way, he received a burning coal from Hell, which he placed inside a hollowed-out turnip, creating the first Jack-o'-lantern."
Pumpkins are nutrient-dense winter squash rich in vitamins A and C, potassium and magnesium, and became associated with Halloween after Irish immigrants brought carving traditions to the Americas. Indigenous people in what is now Mexico cultivated pumpkins as a vital winter food, with seeds dating to 7000–5500 B.C. Celts historically carved faces into root vegetables to ward off spirits on Samhain; Irish immigrants found pumpkins easier to carve, leading to the jack-o'-lantern tradition rooted in a folk tale about Stingy Jack. Halloween stoop decorating grew in New York City late in the 20th century, with Park Slope displays featuring giant gourds up to 1,000 pounds.
Read at Brooklyn Paper
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