Why pumpkins became the world’s symbol of autumn

Archaeology, folklore, and pop culture all reveal the same truth: the pumpkin is one of the world’s most enduring symbols of autumn.

Every fall, pumpkins seem to be everywhere. They show up on porches carved into jack o’lanterns, in pies and breads on holiday tables, and even in the frothy foam of seasonal coffee drinks. But long before they became a seasonal marketing symbol, pumpkins were central to survival, storytelling, and celebration. The history and folklore of pumpkins tell us much about cultural traditions, the blending of old and new worlds, and how a humble squash grew into a global icon of autumn.

Ancient Roots in the Americas

Pumpkins are one of the oldest cultivated crops in the Western Hemisphere. Archaeological evidence suggests they were domesticated in North America more than 7,500 years ago, making them older than both corn and beans. Indigenous peoples across what is now the United States, Mexico, and Central America grew pumpkins alongside other staples. Together, corn, beans, and squash became known as the “Three Sisters,” a trio of crops that provided balanced nutrition and supported each other in the field. Corn stalks gave beans something to climb, beans fixed nitrogen into the soil, and the broad leaves of squash like pumpkins helped keep weeds at bay.

For many Indigenous cultures, pumpkins were more than just food. Dried pumpkin strips could be woven into mats, stored for winter, or roasted for sustenance. Pumpkin blossoms were eaten too, offering beauty and nourishment at the same time. In this way, pumpkins were deeply embedded in early American life long before European colonists arrived.

Early Encounters with Colonists

When European settlers reached North America, they quickly learned that pumpkins were a reliable crop that could withstand poor soils and unpredictable weather. Colonists adopted pumpkins into their diets in soups, stews, and breads. Some accounts even suggest they brewed pumpkin beer by fermenting the flesh.

The pumpkin soon became a symbol of the “new world harvest,” often mentioned in pilgrim poetry and diaries. In 1630, the poet Anne Bradstreet wrote about pumpkins with both admiration and humor, showing that they had already become part of daily colonial life. Early settlers relied on pumpkins for survival during harsh winters, and over time they began to associate the vegetable with abundance and gratitude, themes that still persist today in Thanksgiving celebrations.

The Birth of the Jack O’Lantern

While pumpkins were central to Indigenous and colonial foodways, their place in folklore emerged through European traditions. The jack o’lantern legend is one of the most enduring.

In Ireland and Scotland, people carved grotesque faces into turnips or large root vegetables to ward off wandering spirits. The practice stemmed from the legend of Stingy Jack, a trickster who outwitted the devil but was doomed to wander the earth with only a carved turnip lit by a coal to guide him.

When Irish immigrants brought this tradition to America, they found that pumpkins were larger, easier to carve, and readily available in the fall. The pumpkin quickly replaced the turnip, and the American jack o’lantern was born. What began as a ghost story transformed into one of the most beloved Halloween customs.

Pumpkins in American Folklore

As pumpkins took root in American culture, they also found their way into folklore and literature. Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, published in 1820, features a ghostly horseman who hurls a pumpkin as a weapon. The tale cemented the pumpkin’s place in spooky storytelling and gave it a permanent role in the imagery of Halloween.

Pumpkins also appear in fairy tales like Cinderella, where a magical pumpkin becomes a carriage, linking the vegetable to themes of transformation and enchantment. The humble pumpkin, in these stories, is never just food. It is a symbol of mystery, abundance, or even danger, depending on how it is imagined.

From Harvest Festivals to Holidays

By the nineteenth century, pumpkins were a fixture in fall festivals across America. Agricultural fairs often included pumpkin displays and contests, and by the early twentieth century, communities held parades and gatherings where carved pumpkins lined streets and porches.

The rise of Thanksgiving as a national holiday gave pumpkins another starring role. Pumpkin pie, adapted from earlier custard recipes, became a staple of the holiday table. Its warm spices and golden color perfectly matched the theme of harvest and gratitude. Recipes spread in newspapers, cookbooks, and magazines, solidifying pumpkin pie as the dessert of choice for the season.

Folklore of Giant Pumpkins

Another chapter of pumpkin folklore involves the quest for size. Farmers began competing to grow the biggest pumpkin, a tradition that continues today at state fairs and festivals. Some modern pumpkins weigh over 2,000 pounds, inspiring awe and curiosity. These giants are part science, part spectacle, and part legend, fueling tales of impossible abundance. Giant pumpkins embody the idea of agricultural achievement pushed to its limit, much like the folk heroes who could wrestle bears or chop down whole forests in one swing.

Superstitions and Symbolism

Folklore surrounding pumpkins also includes superstitions. In some regions, pumpkins carved and lit were believed to scare away not just spirits but also misfortune. Pumpkins left on doorsteps symbolized welcome and protection. In farming communities, a bumper crop of pumpkins was thought to signal prosperity, while a poor harvest could foreshadow hardship.

Symbolically, the pumpkin came to represent fertility, rebirth, and cycles of nature. Its seeds carry the promise of new life, while its round, glowing presence mirrors the harvest moon of autumn.

Pumpkins in Popular Culture

Today, pumpkins are firmly planted in popular culture. From children’s storybooks to animated films, pumpkins continue to appear as magical objects, symbols of plenty, and seasonal icons. Pumpkin spice has become a phenomenon of its own, transforming the vegetable into a cultural trend that inspires devotion and debate. Festivals, pumpkin patches, and fall décor draw families every year, turning the pumpkin into both a nostalgic memory and a modern experience.

The Global Reach of Pumpkin Lore

Though pumpkins originated in the Americas, their folklore has spread globally. In Europe, they remain linked to Halloween traditions, while in Asia and Africa, pumpkins have been integrated into local cuisines and stories. Each culture brings its own interpretation, but the core themes remain: abundance, transformation, and the mystery of the changing seasons.

The Takeaway

The pumpkin’s journey from an ancient crop of Indigenous farmers to a global icon of folklore is nothing short of remarkable. It has been a source of survival, a tool for storytelling, and a canvas for creativity. Whether carved into a jack o’lantern, baked into a pie, or grown into a record-breaking giant, the pumpkin continues to embody the richness of fall. Its history and folklore remind us that even the simplest foods carry centuries of meaning, weaving together survival, superstition, and celebration into one round, orange package.