October 26, 2022

Gourd Vibes Only 🎃

IT'S NATIONAL PUMPKIN DAY!

It's a perfect day to treat yourself to some salty roasted seeds, a spicy latte, or a slice of pie.
Pumpkins are native to North America, with the oldest evidence of pumpkin-related seeds dating back to somewhere between 7000 and 5500 BC in Mexico.
Today the US produces 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins each year, although the largest on record is currently held by Italian grower Stefano Cutrupi, whose mega-pumpkin weighed in at 2703 pounds last year!
As for the Jack-O-Lantern, its origin is neither pumpkin nor American. The Irish legend goes that "Stingy Jack" tried to trick the devil into paying his bar tab, so after he died the devil wouldn't let him cross over to the afterlife. Jack was cursed to wander the Earth at night, lit by a single coal.
Jack put his coal in a hollowed out turnip and became known as "Jack of the Lantern." The Irish began the tradition of carving turnips with Jack's image to keep him at bay, but when they started immigrating to America, they found pumpkins an even better carving substrate, and thus the existence of the modern Jack-O-Lantern.
Man walking with pumpkin on his head gif

Some people take National Pumpkin Day a bit too far.

GIF via NBC/The Office

*****

What happened on October 26ths of the past? Here are a few things:
• Born on this day: actor best known for portraying Uncle Fester Jackie Coogan (1914), actor/writer/producer/director Seth MacFarlane (1973) and politician/lawyer/former Secretary of State/first female Presidential candidate from a major US political party Hillary Clinton (1947)
• The Terminator was released on this day in 1984
• On this day in 1901 the first recorded use of a "getaway car" took place after a robbery in a Paris shop
• Finally, on this day in 1881 the most famous Wild West shootout took place at the OK Corral
Alright, you've waited long enough — on to the links!

1. 😆 If Werner Herzog had a line of children's Halloween costumes...

This hilarious video imagines what it would be like. Hope you like a lot of umlauts!

2. 🤣 Just modern supernatural problems

Josh from the Boredwalk creator team lost track of the days and things got kinda hairy for him. (While you're catching up on Boredwalk content, be sure to check out Tess and Grace's round up of men's Halloween costumes that are so terrible we had to laugh.)

3. 😱 Wednesday on a Wednesday

This visual effects creator does a brilliant job transforming herself into Wednesday Addams. Check out her whole account, it's pretty cool!

4. 😂 If the world were about to end...

It's dark, but it's also very funny, so naturally I thought of you.

5. 😒 Cake decorator explains how she foils content thieves

Boredwalk isn't the only creator dealing with art theft. This amazing cake decorator explains her trick for catching people re-posting her videos without crediting her.

OK! We'll be back here in your inbox on Friday with BRAND NEW ART (!), more nonsense holidays to dissect, more notable birthdays to celebrate, and more witty content in general. Don't miss it! Until next time...

Peace, love, and pumpkins,

Meredith

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