Pumpkins

Information compiled and written by Miles Martin

The pumpkin is a fruit belonging to the gourd and squash family. The word pumpkin comes from the Greek word pepon, meaning large melon. The French adapted the word to pompon, which was then adapted to the English word pumpion. American colonists eventually changed the word to pumpkin. Although the origin of the “pumpkin” is not definitively known, it is believed to have originated in Central America between 7000-5500 BCE and brought to North America by indigenous tribes. Known as isqoutm squash to the Native Americas, strips of pumpkin were dried and used as sleeping mats or a source of food.

Did you know? In the 19th century, pumpkins were thought to cure snake bites, facial wrinkles and freckles.