Pumpkin field, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

© Shaun Cunningham/Alamy Stock Phot

Pumpkin field, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

The image of a pumpkin field in Victoria, British Columbia, seen today, captures the essence of the festive season. These fields yield a bounty of pumpkins, each one a future slice of pie or a festive jack-o'-lantern lighting up an October evening. Pumpkins are not just symbols of festivities—they are nutritional powerhouses, packed with vitamins A, C and E as well as fibre and antioxidants.

Visitors often flock to these fields for the quintessential pumpkin-picking experience. These orange fruits then transition from the fields into the glowing guardians of Halloween night. These gourds become canvases for masterpieces, adorned with ghoulish and whimsical displays that welcome trick-or-treaters. As people gather to scoop, carve and light their pumpkins, they participate in a shared ritual that transcends cultures. Once merely a fruit, the pumpkin now enjoys a revered place in Halloween celebrations.