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What Do Different Colored Pumpkins Mean on Halloween?

Teal Pumpkin

What Do Different Colored Pumpkins Mean on Halloween?

From pillowcases to pumpkin pails, kids carry all kinds of candy receptacles to trick-or-treat. While much thought might not go into using a grocery bag, the use of different colored pumpkins for trick or treat could be intentional. 

Just as trick-or-treaters can send a signal with what they carry to collect candy, people passing out treats can do the same with their Halloween decor.

Whether you collect or pass out treats, arm yourself with the knowledge of what different colored pumpkins mean on Halloween to prepare for all sorts of trick-or-treaters.

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Teal Pumpkins 

Teal pumpkin yard sign: we have candy and non-food Halloween treats
Teal pumpkins represent food allergies. Your child with a food allergy can carry a teal pumpkin trick or treat bucket. 

Decorate your porch with a teal pumpkin to provide a more inclusive trick or treat experience at your house. 

You could also hang a flag or display a yard sign to let trick or treaters know you have non-food Halloween treats available.


10 Non-food Halloween Treat Ideas

Blue Pumpkin Pails can mean the trick or treater is on the Autism spectrum. Autistic individuals can be non-verbal, so please don't withhold candy if you don't hear a "trick or treat."

The tote bag pictured does more than don a blue pumpkin. It reads "non-verbal trick or treat." 

Check out these FREE trick or treat social story and communication bracelets if you're raising or teaching autistic kiddos. 

Trick or treating provides a unique opportunity to practice words and/or using an augmentative and alternative (AAC) communication device.

But wait, there's more.

Certain colored pumpkins don't necessarily have an implication for trick-or-treating, but have come to represent initiatives to raise awareness (source: tasteofhome.com).
  • purple pumpkins represent epilepsy
  • red pumpkins represent Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
  • pink pumpkins represent breast cancer (October is breast cancer awareness month)
  • white pumpkins represent pregnancy and infant loss
  • yellow pumpkins represent disability advocacy
Check out this Good Housekeeping article for more information on the meanings and organizations behind different colored pumpkin projects.

teal and orange jack-o-lanterns
Summary

Be on the look out for different colored pumpkins on Halloween and for trick or treat. Realize that the trick or treat experience can look different. 

Don't withhold treats, and consider having non-food items available in case of food allergies or intolerances. 

Does your town trick or treat on Halloween or a different day? 



 

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 17, 2023 at 10:27 AM

    Interesting to learn about these

    ReplyDelete
  2. Marcia MoultonOctober 17, 2023 at 5:35 PM

    Thanks for sharing! I didn't know about all of these color significations!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Let’s talk FAM (finances and medicine)October 17, 2023 at 6:42 PM

      Thanks for reading :) I knew of a couple of these, but discovered there were so many more once I did more research!

      Delete
  3. AnonymousMarch 13, 2024 at 3:33 PM

    Autism and food allergies should be the only pumpkins.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Let’s talk FAM (finances and medicine)April 19, 2024 at 2:02 PM

      I was surprised to learn of all the other ones out there! It seems pumpkin for Autism and food allergy awareness are the most commonly recognized and observed.

      Delete

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