Halloween Pumpkin Heaven

We got our first squash of the year in the organic veg box last week, and I was reminded that Halloween - one my favourite times of the year - is approaching fast!

So I thought it would be fun to set up a Squidoo lens on all things pumpkin-related, or more specifically, Halloween-pumpkin related. What's coming up:

*Some info on pumpkin carving and painting

*Other Halloween crafts

*A bit on growing pumpkins

*Reviews and other details about some of the best pumpkin-related resources I've found on the web

*And whatever other Halloween pumpkin-y stuff takes my fancy!

Given that the pumpkin lantern is now pretty much synonymous with Halloween, many people believe that this has always been the case, but that isn't so. Halloween pumpkin lanterns - also known as Jack-o'-Lanterns, - are a distinctly American phenomenon, and since Halloween was not generally celebrated as a holiday in the US prior to the 19th century (when it was popularised by Irish and Scottish immigrants), pumpkin lanterns were not associated with Halloween before that time (although they were used before then during the harvest period).

Carved vegetable lanterns were also used in the British Isles, although here turnips, swedes and mangelwurzels were favoured (I remember having turnip lanterns as a kid - they weren't as pretty as pumpkins, and are a lot harder to carve!) But again, according to the historian David Skal, these vegetable lanterns weren't specifically associated with Halloween, contrary to popular belief.

Still, traditional or not, I'm glad pumpkin lanterns are a firm part of Halloween celebrations these days - their spooky orange glow is just perfect for the occasion!