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 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

• Halloween rubber ducks
  
• Halloween squishy toys
  
• Halloween glowing bouncy balls
  
• Stretchy Skeletons
  
• Halloween Spooky Notepads
  
• Halloween Slap Bracelets
  
• Halloween Self Inking Stamps
  
• Glow Sticks
  
• Halloween Temporary Tattoos
  
• Halloween Make a Face Sticker Sheets
  

Blue Pumpkins

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.

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?