What Do White Pumpkins Mean in Louisiana? Here’s Your Complete Color Guide
Fall is officially here, and Louisiana is looking more festive every day.
Neighborhoods and local businesses are decked out with fall decor in hopes that it will coax some cooler weather out of mother nature.
You may have noticed that some houses display different-colored pumpkins instead of the traditional orange-colored ones we are used to seeing every year.
Turns out that different colored pumpkins sometimes signify special meanings depending on what color they are painted. Here's what each one represents.
Teal Pumpkins
This trend was started by the Food Allergy Research & Education organization to help make people aware of serious food allergies. Teal pumpkins are a reminder that not every kid can eat every treat handed out on Halloween.
Purple Pumpkins
The Purple Pumpkin Project started 10 years ago and its mission each year is to raise awareness for people who suffer from epilepsy.
Pink Pumpkins
The Pink Pumpkin Project is a non-profit started to spread awareness of breast cancer. With over 3.8 million women in the United States having a history of breast cancer there is always a need to remind others to stay aware of it.
Blue Pumpkins
This Halloween, be on the lookout for blue buckets and pumpkins. These signify that the home or child has autism and may not be able to say "trick or treat". The pumpkins encourage conversations about autism while the buckets help people handing out candy to be aware of children who may be non-verbal.
Red Pumpkins
Mothers Against Drunk Driver (MADD) is an organization that raises awareness for their cause by displaying red pumpkins during Halloween.
Yellow Pumpkins
Inspired by the Teal Pumpkin Project, mother Laura Slatter is raising awareness for childhood apraxia of speech, a motor speech disorder that makes it challenging to communicate.
White Pumpkins
This Halloween tradition started after a Facebook post with a poem written by Jennifer Giles, a mother who lost her child, Madelyn. Now white pumpkins are used to represent pregnancy and infant loss.
A beautiful poem by Jennifer GilesThis is the storyOf a pumpkin of whiteWhat is its place on this autumn night?Amidst all the orange and colors of fallIt seems out of place; not belonging at allBut oh what a place, and oh what a storyYou see, in its face lies the image of gloryOf babies so small, so incredibly tinyPerfect in purpose, their souls shining brightlyNo less a baby, a child just the sameAs one who was held and called by their nameWas my baby a he?Or was she a she?What would my child have grown up to be?Yet bigger than questions and what ifs and whysIs the comfort they feel when they look to the skiesFor their hope is the truth that they so tightly cling“I’ll know all the answers, understand everythingon the day that God hands my child back to me”This pumpkin is sweet baby boys and girlsWho never opened their eyes to this worldNever cried, never fearedProtected from painTouched by their innocenceWe’re never the sameLives perfect and pureAll things lovely and sweetAnd we honor them here‘Till heaven we meetThis pumpkin is all of the sweet little onesWhose lives although short were covered in loveIn kisses and snuggles, rocking and playingTheir parents not knowing they wouldn’t be stayingBut the time that they had they would never tradeEven if they could be saved from the painTheir cribs may be empty, but the promise remainsOne day they’ll hold their babies againThis pumpkin is for all these sweet angel friendsWhose parents all know this isn’t the endAnd how they are doingTonight up in heavenIs better than anything we could imagineThough we’re missing our childrenAnd we’re still on this sideOur hearts will continue to swell with prideAt the special, the wondrous, the out of place thingsLike this white pumpkin, and the joy that it bringsA reminder that our children are more than aliveThey are perfectly whole, all things are made rightAngel parents, I know there’s still tears to be shedBut I hope that this pumpkin brings peace insteadOur babies are promised forever in heavenAnd that’s the best gift we could ever be given.