Pumpkins, like other squash, are native to North America. Pumpkins are widely grown for commercial use, and are used both in food and recreation.
The practice of carving pumpkins for Halloween originated from an Irish myth about a man name “Stingy Jack”. Throughout Britain and Ireland, there is a long tradition of carving lanterns from vegetables, particularly the turnip, mangelwurzel, or swede. Immigrants to North America used the native pumpkin, which are both readily available and much larger – making them easier to carve than turnips.
