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Kathy’s Garden Writing |
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THE GREAT PUMPKIN No, this is not a Charlie Brown story -- it’s about the first Thanksgiving, and the orange squash which many have suggested should be the national vegetable (or fruit). Pumpkins have been part of the diet of the Americas for thousands of years, probably originating in Central America. North American Indians grew them as a food staple for centuries and fortunately shared their harvest with the Pilgrims, who adopted them for sustenance during the challenging adjustment to their new home. Perhaps thanks to the pumpkin, we are all here today, preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving -- honoring the generosity of Native Americans, and the bountiful foodstuffs available in this Great Land. Although not specifically mentioned in diary entries about the first Thanksgiving, historians feel that the pumpkin was likely part of the famous harvest celebration of 1621. But pumpkin pie it was not! The Pilgrims reportedly cut off the top; filled the cavity with wild apples and cranberries; and baked it in hot ashes right in the shell. Thankfully, the seeds of these original pumpkins have been saved. Called “Connecticut Field,” these 20-pound fruit have bright orange skin and golden flesh. For those who want to grow a smaller hybrid of this behemoth, there’s “New England Sugar Pie,” dating from at least 1863, and weighing in at four to five pounds (both can be ordered from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, at 417-924-8917, or rareseeds.com). Now fast forward to 1929 Chicago, and the Libby canning factory, where a new product rolled down the production line – canned pumpkin puree. With this, the Thanksgiving holiday tradition of pumpkin pie really came into its own. The Libby folks are still the largest suppliers of canned pumpkin, contracting 5000 acres around Morton, Illinois, the self-proclaimed “Pumpkin Pie Capital of the World.” And Libby’s also has a monopoly on the variety grown, the Dickinson, which they’ve been perfecting for years – a small meaty pumpkin very different from the watery Jack-o-Lantern type. Finally, a charming part of pumpkin history is the derivation of the odd-sounding name. Spanish Conquistadors quickly appreciated the value of the big orange orbs, and shipped the seeds to all corners of the globe. A Greek word “pepon” (“large melon”) was used to describe them; nasalized by the French to “pompon;” pronounced “pumpion” by the English (see Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor”); and finally christened “pumpkin” by the American colonists. The Native American word “askutasquash” (“eaten raw or cooked”), was abridged to describe the whole family of summer and winter squash. Perhaps during this time of Thanksgiving, we should pay homage to the beneficent natives and their bountiful homeland, and close the gratitude circle: A noble person is thankful and mindful of the favors He receives from others (The Buddha). And: Gratitude to gratitude always gives birth (Sophocles). So say thank you by doing something special for someone this month – maybe even bake them a pumpkin pie! Kathleen Arcuri November 2008 |