Cuckoo for cucurbitaceae

From Wikipedia:

• A pumpkin is a gourd (Cucurbitaceae).
• The pumpkin is actually a fruit, and is related to the cucumber.
• Using pumpkins as lanterns at Halloween is based on an ancient Celtic custom... on that night hollowed-out turnips, beets and rutabagas with a candle inside were placed on windowsills and porches to welcome home spirits of deceased ancestors and ward off evil spirits and a restless soul called "Stingy Jack," hence the name "Jack-o'-lantern".
• The town of Keene, New Hampshire currently holds the world record for the most lit pumpkins in one location.

Yesterday I drove up to Keene for the annual Pumpkin Festival, meeting up with Lorianne and Gary (click to see their fest photos). Keene has recovered fairly well from the flooding that put the area in the national news spotlight a couple of weeks ago. But it was still raining - or mostly intermittent drizzling. That didn't stop thousands of people from turning out for the event. The Jack-o'-lantern count didn't come near to breaking Keene's Guinness World Record of 28,952 set in 2003, but given the weather, the recent floods and high gas prices that might have kept some participants away, they did very well at a reported estimate of more than 24,500.

[Gary and Lorianne photograph the, um, sights]

We three bloggers did what bloggers do - wandered around thrusting our cameras at various sights, then got in out of the cold, damp air to sample the anything-but-local cuisine - enchiladas, burritos and the like, washed down with pumpkin ale and/or margaritas. This and the salsa music on the outside loudspeakers did kinda warm things up, however incongruous given the setting, the temperatures and the local populace.

This year I stayed long enough to see the lighting of the pumpkins. Last year the Red Sox and Yankees were in the ALCS playoffs so I rushed home to watch. No such urgency this year, except for my rapidly chilling body. Although I'm sure the thousands of lit Jack-o'-lanterns are spectacular to see after dark, it was still good to get a glimpse of them in the fading light.

Comments

[Lorianne]

I love the title of this post: "Cucurbitaceae" has a certain ring to it, doesn't it? :-)

I *told* Gary you'd definitely post the pic of us admiring Ms. Gourd-ilicious. I guess that means I know you all too well!

Not only did we not break our own record, but the "Life Is Good" pumpkin festival in Boston had more than we did...THIS year. Our World Record still stands, and we're gonna kick their Cucurbitaceae next year!!! ;-)

[leslee]

Try saying cucurbitaceae three times fast -- after margaritas!

Well, after you posted Ms. Gourd-ilicious' cheesecake shot full-frame and up-top on your last post, I figured I had to show you guys snapping her.

Yes, next year Keene's gonna kick pumpkin-butt!

[Marja-Leena]

Wow, I don't think I've ever seen so many jack-o-lanterns in one place - gorgeous! And I didn't know all that about pumpkins.