“Pumpkins are commonly carved into decorative lanterns called jack-o’-lanterns for the Halloween season in North America. Throughout Britain and Ireland, there is a long tradition of carving lanterns from vegetables, particularly the turnip, mangelwurzel, or swede.

Not until 1837, however, does jack-o’-lantern appear as a term for a carved vegetable lantern,[32] and the carved lantern does not become associated specifically with Halloween until 1866.  Significantly, both occurred not in Britain or Ireland—but in North America.

Although every modern chronicle of the holiday repeats the claim that vegetable lanterns were a time-honored component of Halloween celebrations in the British Isles, none gives any primary documentation. In fact, none of the major nineteenth-century chronicles of British holidays and folk customs make any mention whatsoever of carved lanterns in connection with Halloween. Neither do any of the standard works of the early twentieth century.

In the United States, the carved pumpkin was first associated with the harvest season in general, long before it became an emblem of Halloween.”

Source: Wikipedia.com

According to the University of Illinois Extension website:
Pumpins & More:

• The top pumpkin production states are Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and California.
• Pumpkins contain potassium and Vitamin A.
• Pumpkins are used for feed for animals.
• Pumpkin flowers are edible.
• Pumpkins originated in Central America.
• Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites.
• In early colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for the crust of pies, not the filling.
• Pumpkins are 90 percent water.
• Pumpkins are a fruit!
• Eighty percent of the pumpkin supply in the United States is available in October.
• Colonists sliced off pumpkin tops; removed seeds and filled the insides with milk, spices and honey. This was baked in hot ashes and is the origin of pumpkin pie.
• Native Americans used pumpkin seeds for food and medicine.