Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere-orange, white, teal, purple, pink, blue, red, and more! Is there a meaning behind colorful pumpkins?
During my teen years and beyond, my dad grew pumpkins. Each year we would go into the garden to check on our pumpkins and wait for the day that we could pick out our special pumpkins to decorate. Most of the pumpkins he grew were shades of orange, with a few white ones. From small pie pumpkins to huge ones weighing several hundred pounds that a small child could sit on, our pumpkins were a delight to me. To this day when pumpkins show up in stores and in decor in the fall, I get a smile on my face.
In the last decade or so, various organizations and projects have adopted specific colors to increase awareness of certain health challenges and other concerns. With Fall events in full swing, knowing the meanings behind colorful pumpkins will be helpful when you see a home decorated with or a child carrying a colorful pumpkin.
More than just orange and white
Perhaps you’ve noticed in stores the variety of colors that pumpkins are arrayed in. For those who trick-or-treat or have fall events, there are pumpkin shaped containers of orange, teal, blue, and purple. Read on to learn about these very special meanings behind colorful pumpkins!
Teal
Teal is one of my favorite colors and when I first saw a translucent glass teal pumpkin, I just had to have one. Each year, I unwrap the beautiful glass pumpkin and my eyes shine with delight. Teal pumpkins do have a huge significance. They signify that nonfood treats are available at a house. If a child is carrying a teal colored container, it likely means that child has food allergies. If know my story you know how this touches my heart. For those who don’t, I was diagnosed with multiple food allergies over 20 years ago. I have been navigating the world of gluten free, dairy free, soy free, and corn free home cooking ever since.
To learn more about how teal pumpkins came about, check out The Teal Pumpkin Project by FARE, Food Allergy Research & Education.
Blue
Blue pumpkins, though not formally adopted by an organization, may signal autism. In the article in Good Housekeeping on July 25, 2022, How Blue Pumpkins on Halloween Aim to Raise Awareness Around Autism Spectrum Disorders, author Zee Krstic shares that families and caregivers use dark blue pumpkins as a sign that a child has been placed on the autism spectrum. It may be difficult for a child to say trick-or-treat or say thank you.
For more information, check out the initiative started by Autism Speaks.
Purple
Purple pumpkins are indeed beautiful. Beyond their beauty, purple pumpkins have a definitive meaning. The Purple Pumpkin Project was created by the Epilepsy Foundation to raise funds and awareness for epilepsy. To learn more, go here.
Pink
Most people are aware that the color pink is related to breast cancer awareness. The Pink Pumpkin Project was designed by the American Cancer Society to raise awareness of breast cancer and to encourage women to get mammograms.
Yellow
Inspired by The Teal Pumpkin Project, Laura Slatter founded the Yellow Pumpkin Parade to encourage patience and kindness in the interactions with trick-or-treaters. Spurred on by her son, Levi, and his first experience, she desires people to understand that many children have speech and motor challenges that prevent them from speaking or being able to reach out to receive their treats.
Red
Mothers Against Drunk Driving chose their signature red for their pumpkin color. The organization raises awareness of the dangers of drunk driving. If your children participate in fall events such as trick-or-treating, remind them of safety practices in crossing streets and being aware of their surroundings. Here’s how to learn more about MADD.
White
After the loss of her baby, Jennifer Stephens Giles wrote The White Pumpkin Poem. She connected with Jessica Watt to offer white wooden pumpkins to others as a symbol of those who have had similar stories. Together they founded The White Pumpkin Project as a way to show support for those who have suffered with infertility or infancy loss. If you or someone you know are interested in these, you can find them at The Happy Home. National Pregnancy and Infancy Loss Awareness Month is October.
The meanings of colorful pumpkins
In learning the meanings of colorful pumpkins, I’ve been encouraged to remember those who face real life challenges. These pumpkins allow them to let others know of a situation or condition without needing to overtly talk about it. A smile, a kind word, and consideration make a big difference, especially when someone is dealing with a situation that needs handled differently than what is commonly done. You may or may not see all of these colors at events this Autumn, but it is helpful to know what they mean. For instance, if a child comes to the door with a teal basket, they can receive a small toy or be able to choose a piece of candy that is safe for them. It helps them not feel as self-conscious or embarrassed. Knowing these stories allows us to offer kindness to others when we see them with a colorful pumpkin.
For more detailed stories behind the meanings behind colorful pumpkins, check out this well-written, informative article, How Colorful Pumpkins Are Empowering Real Families to Inspire Change, by Amanda Garrity and Zee Krstic, Good Housekeeping, October 15, 2021.
*Note: we are not affiliates with any of these sites. We mention them in hopes they will help you to understand the meanings and benefits behind displaying colorful pumpkins, as the information helped us.