At this time of year it’s very likely that you will see pumpkins everywhere: in supermarket aisles, windows, restaurants… There is no escape from pumpkins in October. But how much do you really know about this popular Halloween food? Here are some fun facts to entertain your friends in the run-up to the 31st:
1. Pumpkins are a type of fruit, believe it or not. They belong to the Cucurbita family, which includes squash, melon and cucumbers.
2. The name ‘pumpkin’ originated from the Greek word ‘pepon’, which means ‘large melon’. Though pumpkins do not really look anything like melons…Britons changed ‘pepon’ to ‘pumpion’, which then became the ‘pumpkin’ we know today.
3. Pumpkins were originally used by Native Americans to make mats. They were dried and then woven into fabric.
4. Antarctica is the only continent that is unable to grow pumpkins.
5. The heaviest pumpkin weighed 1,810lb 8Oz. It was grown in Minnesota.
6. The largest pumpkin pie weighed 2020 pounds and was baked in 2005.
7. Pumpkins are made up of 90% water.
8. It was once thought that pumpkins could remove freckles.
9. Pumpkins can sometimes turn out to be yellow, white, red or green, though they are usually orange.
10. Pumpkins have been around for 5000 years.