I’ve already talked about Jack o’lanterns last year, but as I watched It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, I had to wonder where had this new American Lore come from?

After wasting, er, researching online for hours, the best I was able to come up with was that Charles M Shultz decided that since Christmas and Easter both had mascots, Halloween needed one too. Click here for article.

After all, it is a major holiday and most American holidays involve treats and presents.

Thus, the Great Pumpkin was born.

Of course, given the gourd carnage on the streets the day after Halloween, I understand why the Great Pumpkin never shows up.

But I still don’t know why Charlie Brown received rocks and I do love his costume.