Do You Know the Ancestor of the Halloween Pumpkin?

Eggplant? Nope. The big winner is… the turnip! Potatoes and beets were used too!

Where Does This Tradition Come From?

Before explaining why, let's go all the way back to the origins of Halloween. Who invented this holiday? Where does it come from? Although the Irish and Scottish do not agree on who officially created Halloween, legend has it that on the evening of October 31st, the dead visit the living. To welcome them, people used to leave food on the table while the hearth was lit, so that the dece

And the Role of the Turnip in All This?

People used to put a candle into the turnip and place it outside the door. That way, the dead could follow the lit turnips to the many houses. But why a turnip? The weather conditions in Europe are very different from Quebec, which prevented certain vegetables from growing, such as squash. However, the soil was perfect for the growing of root vegetables such as turnips, potatoes and beets.

Today, we can easily find all varieties of squash, including pumpkin. With the immigration of the Irish population through the years, this tradition became an integral component of our local customs. Let’s just say that the pumpkin is a much more practical and charming modern alternative to the turnip!

Happy Halloween!