Morton, Ill., is the pumpkin capital of the world.
The word pumpkin originated from the Greek word for “large melon,” which is pepon. “Pepon” was nasalized by the French into pompon, which the English changed to “pumpion.”
“Jack-of-the-Lantern” first appeared in print in 1750. It referred to a night watchman or a man carrying a lantern.
Native to South America, the firecracker vine (Manettia luteorubra), is known as the “candy corn plant.” It attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
The late John Candy and Michael Landon were both born on Halloween.
This article appears in October 21 • 2011.