Orange Globes!……. My Actifit Report Card: September 12 2025

With it being September and fall just around the corner, I find myself obsessing about pumpkins! 🎃 While many might think that’s odd, pumpkins are the centerpiece of the fall season for me! My question to you is what do you really know about them? While everyone knows they make great pies and goodies, there’s a bit more to them than that.

I asked GROK about the history of pumpkins. 🎃. Here’s what it had to say:

Pumpkins, scientifically known as Cucurbita pepo, have a rich history that spans thousands of years, originating in the Americas and evolving into a cultural icon associated with fall, harvests, and Halloween.

Here’s some of the history points GROK made:

Origins and Early History
• Ancient Beginnings (10,000–8,000 BCE): Pumpkins are one of the oldest domesticated plants, with archaeological evidence suggesting cultivation began in Central America, particularly in what is now Mexico, as early as 10,000 years ago. Indigenous peoples in the Americas, including those in Mesoamerica and North America, grew pumpkins alongside other crops like maize and beans in a system known as the “Three Sisters.” These early pumpkins were smaller, harder, and more bitter than modern varieties, primarily valued for their seeds rather than their flesh.
• Pre-Columbian Uses: Native American tribes, such as the Aztecs, Mayans, and various North American tribes, used pumpkins for food, tools, and storage. Seeds were roasted, and the flesh was dried or cooked. The hard rinds were fashioned into bowls, containers, and even musical instruments. Pumpkins were a staple crop due to their long shelf life and nutritional value.
Spread to Europe and Beyond
• Columbian Exchange (15th–16th Century): After Christopher Columbus and other European explorers encountered pumpkins in the New World, they brought seeds back to Europe in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Pumpkins, along with other squashes, were initially a curiosity but soon became integrated into European agriculture, particularly in warmer regions like the Mediterranean. The term “pumpkin” likely derives from the Greek word pepon (meaning “large melon”), which evolved through French (pompon) and English (pumpion).
• Global Cultivation: By the 17th century, pumpkins were cultivated across Europe, Africa, and Asia, with each region adapting the crop to local cuisines. In Europe, pumpkins were used in soups, pies, and stews, while in parts of Africa and Asia, they were incorporated into local dishes.

More from GROK:

Cultural Significance in North America
• Colonial America (17th–18th Century): European settlers in North America adopted pumpkins from Native Americans, relying on them as a critical food source. Pumpkins were easy to grow, store, and prepare, making them a staple in colonial diets. Early recipes included pumpkin pies (initially made by filling hollowed-out pumpkins with milk, honey, and spices, then baking them) and stews.
• Symbol of Harvest: By the 19th century, pumpkins became synonymous with the fall harvest in the United States, celebrated in festivals and fairs. Their bright orange color and versatility made them a symbol of abundance and agricultural success.

I’ll stop and ask: have you had pumpkin chili? If not, you seriously need to try it. Substitute canned pumpkin for the tomato sauce or paste-a 15 ounce can works nicely! You just might find you will use pumpkin instead of the tomato sauce/paste going forward! Yum!😋

More from GROK:

Pumpkins and Halloween
• Jack-o’-lantern Origins: The tradition of carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns stems from Irish folklore about “Stingy Jack,” a man doomed to wander with a carved turnip lit by a coal ember. Irish immigrants in 19th-century America found pumpkins easier to carve than turnips and adopted them for Halloween, which evolved from the Celtic festival of Samhain. By the late 19th century, carved pumpkins became a hallmark of Halloween celebrations in the U.S.
• Modern Halloween Icon: Today, pumpkins are inseparable from Halloween, with millions carved annually for decorations. The tradition has spread globally, with pumpkin carving competitions and festivals in many countries.

This field of pumpkins was last year’s pumpkin festival which we are looking forward to attending this year! 😁

Here’s some fun facts about pumpkins:

Fun Facts and Recent Trends
• Giant Pumpkins: Competitive pumpkin growing has become a global phenomenon, with growers using advanced techniques to produce pumpkins weighing over 2,000 pounds. The world record, set in 2023, was a 2,749-pound pumpkin grown in Minnesota.
• Pumpkin Spice Craze: The rise of “pumpkin spice” as a cultural phenomenon in the early 21st century, popularized by coffee chains like Starbucks, has cemented pumpkins as a symbol of fall in modern pop culture.
• Ecological Role: Pumpkins support pollinators like bees and contribute to sustainable farming due to their low water needs and ability to grow in diverse climates.-GROK

So, I guess you can say they are everywhere, especially in the fall!🎃🎃🎃

That’s gonna be it for today. If you get the chance, go get your first pumpkin for the season! I’m going to working on getting my third one this weekend!🎃

Take care and enjoy the rest of your day wherever you are! 🙏🌏🙏

👣🐑☕️🎃🌻🍁🍂🍄‍🟫😎👍😁🌙🥱😴

NKJV Psalm 98:1-3

Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!
For He has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.
The LORD has made known His salvation;
His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.

This report was published via Actifit app (Android | iOS). Check out the original version here on actifit.io

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@elizabethbit is a member of ladiesofsgs4eva
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