Fall Facts
Type of tree that does not change colors during Autumn
What are Evergreens?
Why don't evergreen trees change colors in fall?
The leaves are coated with a waxy substance that protects them from the cold.
The fairytale the word "pumpkin" first showed up in
What is Cinderella?
The word "pumpkin" showed up for the first time in the fairy tale Cinderella.
A French explorer in 1584 first called them "gros melons," which was translated into English as "pompions," according to History. It wasn't until the 17th century that they were first referred to as pumpkins.
This country is known as the birthplace of Halloween
What is Ireland?
Fall fruits such as apples and cranberries will do this in water
What is float?
Fun fact: Pumpkins are technically a fruit, and also float! They are a fruit because they come from the flowers of their plant and have seeds inside.
The reason behind Jack-o'-Lanterns
What is to ward off evil spirits?
The original Jack-o'-lanterns were made with turnips and potatoes by the Irish.
In England, they used large beets and lit them with embers to ward off evil spirits. Irish immigrants brought their customs to America but found that pumpkins were much easier to carve
The first day of fall when the day and night are equal in length
What is the Autumnal Equinox?
The approximate date of the autumnal equinox (the start of fall) is September 22 or 23
The only continent Pumpkins are not grown on
What is Antarctica?
Pumpkins are grown on every continent except Antarctica. Which makes quite a bit of sense considering, oh you know, Antartica is a 24/7 icy tundra.
Festival held from mid-to-late September through first Sunday in October
What is Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest is traditionally held in Bavaria, Germany since 1810 and is the world's largest Volksfest featuring a beer festival and traveling carnival. Many states in the US now hold their own versions.
The ingredients of sugar, marshmallows, and corn syrup make up this controversial Halloween candy
What are candy corns?
These were originally called "chicken feed"
Trick-or-Treaters originally received this instead of candy
What is fruit?
The green pigment, found in leaves, breaks down during the fall causing leaves to change colors
What is Chlorophyll?
Leaves change color due to the breakdown of chlorophyll. This process reveals other pigments like carotenoids and anthocyanins, resulting in vibrant fall colors.
2700 lbs
What is the weight of the largest/heaviest pumpkin grown in the world.
A multi-day holiday involving family and friends gathering; involves food, flowers and colorful decorations
What is Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)?
Traditionally celebrated across Latin America Nov 1 and 2, though other days such as Oct 31 or Nov 6 may be included depending on the locality. Family and friends gather to pay their respects and remember family and friends who have passed. It is celebrated using Alters or Ofrendas, candles, favorite foods, marigolds, photos of loved ones, sugar skulls (calaveras), bright colored paper banners, marigolds
The part of the pumpkin that is not edible
What is none?
Trick question! You can eat every part of a pumpkin!
This includes the skin, leaves, flowers, seeds and stem.
The movie Winifred, Sarah and Mary Sanderson aka: The Sanderson Sisters are featured
What is Hocus Pocus?
The bird that does not migrate south for the Winter
What is a Raven?
What makes up the popular Fall flavor of Pumpkin Spice (Hint - there are 4)
What are: Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves and dry Ginger?
It doesn't actually contain pumpkin!
Countries of the North American continent that celebrate Thanksgiving
What is the US and Canada?
Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in October and November in the United States, Canada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil, Germany and the Philippines. It is also observed in the Dutch town of Leiden and the Australian territory of Norfolk Island. It began as a day of giving thanks for the blessings of the harvest and of the preceding year. Various similarly named harvest festival holidays occur throughout the world during autumn. Although Thanksgiving has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions, it has long been celebrated as a secular holiday as well.
Thanksgiving in Canada is observed the second Monday of October.
On October 31, 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a presidential proclamation changing the holiday to the next to last Thursday in November in an effort to boost the economy
The U.S. state that has named apple cider their official state drink
What is New Hampshire?
The celebrity whose face became the mask used in the movie Halloween
Who is William Shatner?
The classic horror movie Halloween features a serial killer in a William Shatner mask. Most people recognize the scary mask but not everyone knows that the mask was of William Shatner's face. Due to budget constraints, they bought the cheapest mask and spray-painted it white.
Who is Demeter?
The state that produces the most pumpkin
What is Illinois?
Over 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkin are produced each year in the United States.
The top pumpkin-producing states are Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and California.
Illinois produces about five times more pumpkin than any other US state!
The Hindu festival of lights celebrated every fall
What is Diwali?
The festival celebrates the victory of light over darkness and takes place in autumn in India
The weight of the largest pumpkin pie ever made in the US
What is 3,699 pounds?
On September 25, 2010, pumpkin pie history was made in New Bremen, Ohio. Dozens of trained pastry chefs joined forces with the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers to create the World's Largest Pumpkin Pie. Officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the second-largest pie ever made (coming up short of a potato pie baked in Peru on July 16, 2004 (via Guinness World Records), this remarkable confection clocked in with a 20-foot diameter and a weight of 3,699 pounds (per Guinness World Records).
According to The Daily Standard, the gargantuan pie was made from a whopping 187 cans of pumpkin, as well as over 200 dozen eggs, over 100 gallons of evaporated milk, and 525 pounds of sugar, and provided 5,000 servings (although Pumpkin Nook claimed it produced over 3000 pieces). The pie also featured 3 pounds of pumpkin pie spice, 7 pounds of salt, and 14.5 pounds of cinnamon, per The Daily Standard.
The number of movies in the "Friday the 13th" franchise that were released in the 1980s
What is Eight (8)?
There have been 12 movies in the franchise so far but only eight were released in the 80s.