There are five main types of squash or pumpkin, which together produce hundreds of different varieties. The three most important species cultivated in our latitudes are the muscat pumpkin, the Garden pumpkin and Giant pumpkin. Halloween pumpkins are a type of giant pumpkin. Depending on the variety, they can reach a considerable size of up to 40 kg. Halloween pumpkins can be used to carve the best and scariest pumpkin faces to decorate gardens and houses at Halloween.

The festival of Halloween has Irish origins and dates back to the Celtic festival of Samhain. This festival translates as ‘the end of the summer’ and was always held on the eve of 1st November. The Celts believed that on this evening, the gateway to the underworld would be open and the dead could return to visit their relatives. Some welcomed the dead with candy and lights, others feared that the dead would seek revenge on them and therefore dressed up like dead people to ward off evil spirits. The word Halloween came about through Christianisation. In the 9th century, the eve of November 1 was called All Hallows Eve. Hence the word Halloween evolved.

The custom of hollowing out pumpkins and placing a light in them also goes back to a Celtic legend. A villain named Jack was denied access to heaven after his death because of his wrongdoings. But at the same time he was denied access to hell by the devil. Jack then set out to find a place to stay with a hollowed-out turnip and a burning piece of coal. Thus, the belief is that with an illuminated turnip – later pumpkin – one could keep the evil spirits and even the devil at bay. Since many Irish emigrated to America, they brought the custom with them to the USA. From there, the custom later returned to Europe. And Halloween is becoming increasingly popular in Germany, too. In almost every household, a pumpkin is hollowed out and carved and placed outside the door. But what most people don’t know is that Halloween pumpkins are also good to eat.

Their flavour is in no way inferior to other pumpkins and squash. The flesh tastes sweet and mild and can be used to create many delicious dishes. The Halloween pumpkin’s shell is firm yet easy to work with. These round, slightly ribbed pumpkins are also particularly suitable for making great Halloween lanterns due to their bright orange colour and their size of at least 25 cm in diameter.