Pumpkins v Mangel-Wurzels

Pumpkins, “trick or treat”, fancy dress, you can’t miss the fact that 31st October is now yet another major commercial opportunity! Every Halloween, the carved grotesque pumpkin lanterns scowl from doorsteps, lit from within by tea lights or torches.

Pumpkins have a rich and storied history, originating over 7,500 years ago in Central America. These versatile fruits were cultivated by ancient civilisations for their nutritional value, serving as a staple in the diets of indigenous peoples long before European explorers arrived.

Pumpkins were introduced to the UK relatively late, gaining popularity in the 19th century through Halloween traditions from Ireland and Scotland. The carving of Jack-o’-Lanterns, once done with turnips or mangel-wurzels, was adapted to pumpkins for their larger size.

Every year at this time, the glowing faces appear on doorsteps as the tradition of carving pumpkins commences. This tradition began in Ireland in response to a popular folktale about a man who carried a carved-out turnip filled with glowing coal with him in the afterlife. Irish immigrants introduced the custom to America, where the round orange pumpkins we use today are readily available, and the ‘Jack-o’-lantern’ was born. Now, since the 1990s, pumpkin carving for Halloween has become an increasingly popular activity across Britain.

Once your pumpkin has served this purpose, please dispose of it in your composter or in the household waste. Don’t leave it out for wildlife – it’s toxic to hedgehogs! Of course, you could always make a delicious soup with it!