Pumpkins are as much a staple of the autumn season as fallen leaves. But pumpkins taste infinitely better. Who can deny that a slice of heaven actually is a slice of pumpkin pie?
When I reach the Pearly Gates, I’m expecting St. Peter to serve me pumpkin pie and a pumpkin spice latte as a reward for a life well lived.
Back here on planet Earth, people feel a strong connection to pumpkins due to the nostalgia associated with the fall season.
Indeed, the pumpkin is to fall like the swoosh is to Nike.
From coffee to candles to deodorant, pumpkin spice is ubiquitous — a signal that autumn is upon us once more.
There are powerful cues that play into the nostalgia surrounding fall — possibly even more so than with other seasons.
There’s a nip in the air, the leaves are different colors, kids and their oversized backpacks are schlepping to school — all of which are triggers that remind us of our younger selves.
Think Halloween and the childlike joy it brings with its costumes and even TV specials like “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” These are things that bring many of us back to an earlier, simpler time.
Those layers of positive memories and nostalgia, coupled with the anticipation of what’s to come, all play into the excitement many feel about fall.
Pumpkins ride in tandem with fall. The connection is an indelible tradition. Pumpkins are mostly harvested in October, making them a natural choice for fall. And pumpkins have extensive versatility. They’re nutritious and used to make lattes, soups, desserts and bread.
Of course, jack-o’-lanterns are the ultimate in fall decorations. An artistically carved jack-o’-lantern can elicit smiles from the drabbest souls. Pumpkins, unlike us, have a certain charm when they become hollowed-out shells.
But when we think of fall, it’s not just nostalgia at play. There’s a cozy aspect as well, visions of s’mores, snuggly hayrides and beloved pumpkin spice sweets.
Our love affair with pumpkins remains vivid in the folds of time. Pumpkins are one comforting constant in a world of chronic change.
Scene changes inherent in the passage of time bring a subtlety we seldom see except through the prism of reflection. But pumpkins, because of their plumpness and orange complexion, always stand out through the decades.
While an uncertain future lies taut on the horizon like a drawn bowstring, it’s a given that the allure of pumpkins remains a certainty.
Pumpkins even spawn wonderful puns and jokes.
For instance….
What did the pumpkin say to its carver? Cut it out!
How do you repair a broken jack-o’-lantern? With a pumpkin patch.
Why is the jack-o’-lantern so forgetful? Because it’s empty-headed.
What is a pumpkin’s favorite sport? Squash.
What do you get if you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its diameter? Pumpkin pi.
Mike Zielinski, a resident of Berks County, is a columnist, novelist, playwright and screenwriter.
Source: Berkshire mont
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