If you see a pink pumpkin at a home, it could mean that a person in the home is a survivor, knows someone who is a survivor, or is currently undergoing treatment. The Epilepsy Foundation aims to encourage support for afflicted youngsters through its Purple Pumpkin Project. Those that display purple pumpkins often have family members that suffer from epilepsy, while others simply want trick-or-treating parents to know that their Halloween displays are safe for epileptics — no strobe lights, etc. Founder Ron Lamontagne was brainstorming ideas on how to spread epilepsy awareness after his youngest son was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2009 at the age of four. Households are encouraged to paint their pumpkins purple if they have a loved one with epilepsy. Teal pumpkins started growing in popularity in the fall of 2014, because Halloween can be a tough time for children with food allergies.
She’s written for a variety of online parenting publications including Scary Mommy, Motherly, and YourTango, but promises that she can talk about non-parenting stuff in real life. Two farmers in Pennsylvania started growing the pumpkins several years ago. They created the Pink what does encantada mean in spanish Pumpkin Patch Foundation to raise money for breast cancer research. The white Halloween pumpkin was inspired by a Facebook post with a poem written by a mother in mourning. Jennifer Giles, a mother who lost her child Madelyn, wrote the poem in remembrance of her daughter.
While you’re out and about in the neighborhood on Halloween, you may even see pink pumpkins on some porches. National Geographic explains that while trick-or-treating has roots in these ancient traditions, the modern-day version in the U.S. took off after World War II when sugar rations had ended. The rise of suburban neighborhoods meant kids could go door-to-door safely at night, and by the 1950s, commercialization of the holiday was underway, with pre-wrapped candy easier to hand out to hordes of kids than homemade treats. “Instead of relying on others to be kind, I will only take my kids to visit places where I know they’ll be welcome,” she shared, like “Trunk or Treat” events at their school where the community is already close. “We might even knock on a few of our neighbor’s doors, but only the ones who know us personally. There are plenty of safe spaces to choose from that don’t involve trusting a stranger with my children.”
The child may be non-verbal, so don’t try to force a trick-or-treat-out of them. Or, they could have sensory overload by loud displays or wild costumes. A blue pumpkin placed outside your home will signal to the guardians of kids on the spectrum that you’ve prepared your house to minimize any triggers, a welcome sight to caregivers who want their kids to experience the holiday like any other, but safely. Thanks to videos on social media and pushes from various nonprofit health-advocacy organizations, colored pumpkins like these are showing up on more and more Halloween doorsteps nationwide. Savvy growers have figured out how to breed the season’s signature gourd in a variety of shades, but plenty of All Hallow’s Eve celebrants have taken to painting their own, too.
You’ve probably seen yellow pumpkins in stores that are artificially colored, but there are some varieties that grow and turn yellow instead of orange. Many of the giant pumpkins that are grown are yellow or white when they are small and then turn yellow after some time. It’s typically the Australian Blue pumpkin that you’ll notice has a bit of a blue tint. Considered a specialty produce, Australian Blues most often grow in Queensland and New South Wales, AU. Now there are dozens of pink pumpkin patches popping up across the country. A portion of the sale of each pumpkin goes to find treatments and hopefully, a cure.
Whether it’s the serotonin boost from the chocolate , the healthy cortisol release extracted by jump scares, or simply the act of ritual that brings communities together, the holiday is a boon to mental health. Dolls & Dollhouses / 8 hours agoThe Rainbow High series is a collection of 11-inch fashion dolls recognizable for bright rainbow-themed hair, stylish clothing and upscale accessories. “These notes helped me fight for my son, and helped my family at a time I needed all of those stories most.” Laura says she’d started out by highlighting limitations due to speech apraxia, but quickly realized that her goal was to ensure that any child could participate in neighborhood activities without being slighted.
The project has successfully expanded, but pumpkins remain at its core; the group relies on the support of their local community to pull off a successful fundraiser each year. Pleasant Valley Greenhouse & Nursery, Inc. donates pumpkins, whereas volunteers donate their time and decorating skills. The Pink Pumpkin Project has sold 8,000 pumpkins in the last 10 years, donating 100% of the proceeds to women and families in their surrounding area. A blue candy bucket may inform others that the child is on the autism spectrum. It helps others know that these trick-or-treaters may not be able to say “Trick or treat! Patience, kindness and acceptance in this situation ensures all children can trick-or-treat and have a great Halloween.