HALLOWEEN FACTS

Pumpkin Facts

• Pumpkins are a fruit that originated in Central America.
• The name "pumpkin" comes from the Greek word "pepon," meaning a large melon.
• 90% of the pumpkin is made up of water.
• The yellow-orange flowers that bloom from a pumpkin vine are edible.
• Using pumpkins as lanterns at Halloween is based on an ancient Celtic custom brought to America by European immigrants.
• The largest pumpkin grown was recorded on October 2, 2004 weighing 1,446 lbs.
• Pumpkins, and their seeds, were a celebrated food of the Native American Indians who treasured them both for their dietary and medicinal properties.
• Illinois grows more pumpkins than any other state in the country. It harvests nearly 12,300 acres of fruit.

Halloween Facts

• The carving of jack-o'-lanterns originated from the tradition of carving the faces of lost souls into hollowed out pumpkins and turnips. A candle was placed inside the carvings making the faces glow. The Halloween lanterns were placed on doorsteps to ward off evil spirits.
• The world's fastest time to carve a face into a pumpkin is 54.72 seconds, by Stephen Clarke (USA), on October 23, 2001 (source: Guinness World Records)
• More than 93 percent of children go trick-or-treating each year. (source: NCA)
• Halloween also is recognized as the 3rd biggest party day after New Year's and Super Bowl Sunday.
• Trick-or-treating is thought to have its origins in a European custom called souling where people would beg for "soul cakes."
• There were estimated 36.8 million potential "trick-or-treaters" ages 5-13.
• Legendary magician Harry Houdini died in Detroit from a ruptured appendix on Halloween in 1926.